PART ONE – Lando NORRIS (McLaren), Esteban OCON (Haas), George RUSSELL (Mercedes)
Q: Lando, let’s start with you. After all, Singapore was a happy hunting ground for you last year. How confident are you coming into this weekend?
Lando NORRIS: Confident. Because like you said, last year was a very good one here. We were very strong here last year. I had a good race, so always nice. I have always enjoyed it since my first year in 2019. So, at the minute, it looks like a little bit worse weather than what we’ve had over the last few years, but excited. It’s one of my favourite tracks of the season, so happy to get going.
Q: How do you see the pecking order at the moment? Because Max Verstappen’s won the last two races. Do you think that was track-specific to Monza and Baku, or do you think he’s genuinely a challenger at every race now?
LN: Genuinely a challenger. I think if you go back to the beginning of the season, they were challenging the first six, seven races for race wins, challenging us in the Drivers’. And then we brought some upgrades, improved a little bit. Couple weeks ago, they brought some upgrades, and it seems like that’s kind of put them back on the same level as us. So, I think we’re still expecting and we still come into every race with the ambition and with the goal of winning and wanting to dominate as a team and continue the form that we’ve had all season. But nevertheless, you know, it’s a track where Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull, certainly over the last few weekends, have been closer. So we expect battles, especially with him.
Q: Can we talk about that season-long form? Just 13 more points this weekend will seal the Constructors’ title for McLaren. When you look back at 2025, what has stood out for you? What’s been the magic sauce for McLaren?
LN: I mean, yeah, the driver’s! Car’s mediocre! But, I mean, without making a joke of it, I think you got the two things. You obviously need the best car. I think we’ve had that for 95% of the races. I think there’s been a few here and there. Like, even Monza is the most recent one where I don’t think we were quick enough. Baku, I would say we probably should have been and were fast enough. We just didn’t do a very good job. Monza, we weren’t quick enough. So, you know, there’s been a couple races where we’ve not had the dessert—like, the perfect weekends. But as a constructor, I think that’s the important thing. We’ve got two good drivers. And I think there are plenty of other teams with two great drivers, but I kind of hate saying it, but not ones who have delivered every weekend as often as what Oscar and myself have done. But it’s also easier for us to deliver because we’re ahead of the field a lot of the time. So in some ways, we have an easier job than some others. But as a constructor, you need two drivers who deliver every weekend, who finish most races. And that’s what we’ve been able to do. Maybe not the last couple, but until that point, we’ve been the best performing duo as drivers. And we’ve clearly had the best car and been the best team.
Q: Quick word on the Drivers’ Championship. You’re now within a race win of Oscar. How do you see the challenge ahead with seven races to go?
LN: I mean, you ask me this question every time, and it’s the same answer.
Q: Can you just remind us?
LN: Yeah. Just play the clip from last time, I guess.
Q: Alright, we will do that. Alright, Lando. Thanks for that. Esteban, let’s come to you. It’s been a while since we’ve seen you in the press conference. Can we just start with your thoughts on the progress with the car since the summer break?
Esteban OCON: I think since the summer break, obviously, we had very good Zandvoort as a team. The quali was definitely not great, but we were able to have very good car pace through the race and come back in very decent positions. After that, I think the tracks were quite difficult for us. There were some areas of the track where we were lacking quite a lot of pace – in Baku and Monza.
But I hope that here we will have more performance out of this car. It’s a track that I really enjoy, especially since they removed that last sector that I didn’t really like too much. Yeah, I’ve learned to like this track more and more, to feel more comfortable with it through the years, and it’s a track that I now really like. And there’s a lot of support around here also, so it’s quite special.
Q: And Haas seem to like it. Hülkenberg had a very strong weekend here last year, with the short 90-degree corners. Do you think it’ll suit this car?
EO: I hope so. I mean, usually, where we lose quite a lot of performance is in the straight lines. There are not many of that around here. We are pretty good in terms of traction, getting out of corners, and low-speed performance is also pretty decent. So again, it’s going to be very close out there. It’s looking like it would be quite tough with the weather, so we need to see which sessions are going to be dry and if the important ones are going to be dry as well. But it’s out there to take the opportunity, and I hope that we can take a good one.
Q: Final one from me. A bit left-field, but can we go to last week, to Mugello? Haas had a family day there. We saw Romain Grosjean back in a Formula 1 car for the first time since his accident. Just you were there — give us your thoughts on the day, your memories?
EO: It was awesome. And, you know, we had most of our employees that were there. It was a big Haas family day. Everyone was there to witness Romain driving an F1 car five years after his accident in Bahrain. And it was a day full of happiness and emotions, really, and I’m glad to have been there to witness it all. Romain didn’t lose anything. He was straight away on pace. He knew everything on the steering wheel and everything, obviously, you know, it’s only been five years, but yeah, definitely a great day. And this team is very special in that sense — there are emotions. Obviously, we are a small team, but it’s really a big family. And even though it was five years ago, the team didn’t forget that Romain was there from the start, and that’s quite special.
Q: George, let’s come to you now. Start with the usual — have you got a contract for next year yet?
George RUSSELL: Surprise. No dates to give you. I told you you’d be the first to know when there’s something to report.
Q: How long have we got to wait?
GR: I think for any driver, when you get to a certain point in your career, things have to be done right. Every time you renew a contract, it’s the most important one of your life and it has to be done with good care. There’s nothing to worry about, and it will get done when it gets done.
Q: Are you a tough negotiator?
GR: How many of these questions? You keep on going! No, I don’t think so. I think it’s just about something that’s fair, mutually beneficial. I think that’s what we all chase. It’s obviously different for certain drivers who may have a bit more power, may have a bit less power. But as I said, no more updates. Nothing to report. I’ll be glad to tell you all once there is.
Q: And the good news is you’re sounding a lot better than when you were in the post-race press conference in Baku. Are you feeling better?
GR: Yeah. Feeling better, to be honest. Baku was a tough one just in terms of how I was feeling. Not 100% right now. I’ve improved substantially. But if I think there’s any other race, I wouldn’t have a single shred of concern. But, of course, Singapore being Singapore and the obvious challenges here, I’m sure it will be fine — but Sunday won’t be a breeze.
Q: Well, a heat hazard has been declared for the first time ever this weekend. Can you just tell us what that means for the drivers?
GR: Yeah. We’ve used the driver cooling vest a few times already this season at the hot races.
But obviously, this is the first time where it’s become mandatory, which I think is good news.
Not everybody finds the top comfortable, but I think some find it more comfortable than others.
And of course, over time, you’ll be able to adjust it to your own preferences. But the concept is good. When you’re racing in 90% humidity and the cockpits are getting on for 60 degrees, it’s a bit of a sauna inside the car. So I think we all welcome it.
Q: And from a performance point of view, you were fourth last year. What are your hopes?
GR: I think the last two years, we’ve been reasonably good. Ferrari are often very strong here. They were on pole two years ago, and last year they were looking really strong until Q3, which sort of ruined their weekend. And of course, we know McLaren at the hot races, high tyre degradation circuits, are exceptionally strong. So I expect McLaren and Ferrari to be the two teams out in front.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Tom Slafer – DAZN Spain) Question for George. Regarding the cooling vest that you were mentioning, I heard some drivers said that it’s uncomfortable while driving. I think you used it in Bahrain this season at least. How is it uncomfortable? Is it because of the movements, or is it just having an extra layer?
GR: I mean, I can’t talk for the other drivers. I think it’s just where the tubes on your back connect to the tubes on your front, and they have to go around your ribs. And when you go through high-speed corners and the g-force, you’re feeling these tubes on the side of your ribs. So I think that was definitely an issue for me at the beginning. They made some changes — it has been improved. But as I said, still, you have these tubes going around your ribs, which is not the perfect place for it. There’s not many high-speed corners here in Singapore and high lateral G-forces, so I don’t think it would be a major issue.
Q: (Vicky Piria – Sky Sports Italy) For all three drivers, if possible, if they could give me a percentage number of chance for Max Verstappen to win the title. Lando, let’s start with you.
LN: I mean, there’s a chance, so… more than zero. I don’t know. It’s probably, like, actual stats. So, I don’t know. Yeah. There’s a chance.
EO: I mean, we all know Max and how dangerous he is when there’s something to grab. So yeah, there’s a good chance that if he’s got a competitive car until the end of the year, he can catch back.
Q: George, are you going to give us a number?
GR: 100%!
EO: Good friend.
Q: (Laurent Dupin – Canal+) Esteban already talked about it, but your point of view, George and Lando, about Romain driving a Formula 1 car five years later — because you were there on the day of his accident.
GR: Yeah. I mean, obviously, for us who were sort of in the race and witnessing it, I still sort of remember it to this moment. Seeing the flames in my rearview mirror — extremely horrific to see.
And I don’t think anybody wants to end their career in that way, so to see him get a chance to go back out — he’s obviously always been in great spirits ever since the incident. Of course, he was in — I can’t remember if it was Abu Dhabi or Bahrain — the following race, but he was there on the sidelines from the following race. You know, his spirits have never dropped. So yeah, nice for him and nice of Haas to give him the opportunity.
LN: Yeah. Good for him. I thought he was doing a test in a Mercedes. No? Was he not? I don’t know. But I guess nice for him and the team. They probably didn’t want it to end the way it did in some ways, or for those kind of things to happen. But he’s been racing since. For him to get back into a Formula 1 car, his dream, and kind of get back probably some good memories that he had was a nice thing for him. So nice to see it.
Q: (Ian Parkes – RacingNews365.com) Question, Lando. Four weeks ago in Monza, you were asked about the title race then. And you said at that stage that your life was being made harder because McLaren was so dominant and that it would be made easier if there were other drivers between yourself and Oscar. Given the performance of Max over the last two Grands Prix — winning both races from pole position — have you actually got more than you bargained for, potentially?
LN: Well, I mean, it’d be easier if I was always finishing first and him third, but that’s not going to be the case. So, you know, it’s difficult to know. I think certainly in Baku, we had the pace to win and we had the car to win and we didn’t. I don’t think we necessarily had the pace to be on pole, but I think we had a chance to fight and had the chance to fight Max. In Monza they were just too quick for us.
So if there’s some races coming up where they’re just too fast — which is very possible — he qualified one tenth behind me here last year, even when we were already dominant, he was only one tenth off. So I expect him to be quick for many of the races this season. We’re going to go to Vegas, another low downforce track where we don’t expect to be as great as we have been in other places. So I think there’s still opportunity. We know there’s opportunity for them. But as long as we’re just focusing on ourselves, and I’ll try and maximize every result I can, whether that’s on Saturday or Sunday.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Lando, question for you. I want to ask you about Max doing his event at the Nürburgring. I don’t know if you watched the race at all, but just the idea of a driver going and doing a completely different event. I know you’ve talked about doing Le Mans in the future. How much does that add to a driver’s greatness — his ability to flip between categories, do you think? And what’s your thinking in terms of future plans in sports cars?
LN: I mean, it’s cool. It’s nice he can go and do what he wants. I think after you win four world championships, you have a bit more right to just go and choose what you want to do. Everyone knows how much Max loves doing all those things. And yeah, it’s nice that he goes to do something else that he enjoys. But you can do what you want. Like, I don’t know how much it adds to your greatness or not, but the fact he can go into any series and be probably the best, I think does show how good he is and how great he is. I’ve said it many times. I think he’s born to be, and will forever be, one of the best ever, if not the best in Formula 1. So I think for anyone to have a chance of going up against him and beating him is pretty slim at times. But no, it’s cool. I respect it. I think it’s a great thing. If I could go and do it more, maybe I would. But I don’t know about my future still. Like, I still see a time when I’ll just want to leave Formula 1 and go do other things — go play golf and have some fun elsewhere. But I respect a lot what Max does, and I respect Max a lot, like I’ve always said. But yeah, I’ve not seen any of it, but I love the Nordschleife, so that is probably another place I would love to go and try at one point.
Q: Can I open this up to you guys as well? Esteban, do you fancy a bit of the Nordschleife? What do you think of what Max did last weekend?
EO: Awesome. Yeah, I think that was really cool. I watched some of it. Obviously, it was a very long race, but I was definitely looking. I’ve done some testing and developing on some cars on the Nordschleife last year because I wanted to learn the track and have a feel for myself. I’ve been racing this track on Gran Turismo for years and years. And to have seen Max going there and winning the race was obviously incredible. No doubt of how good he is. Remarkable to say the least because we have a very busy schedule — he’s playing a world championship potentially. He’s won already four, which helps in his decision on going or not to do other things. But yeah, if I was in his position, I would probably do the same, definitely. But it is not the case.
GR: Yeah, I think it’s incredible, to be honest. Like the two guys said, I think we’re all pretty jealous of it. Because having this freedom, of firstly doing what you love in Formula 1, but then also being able to go out and race other things and just enjoy it at your leisure — I don’t think it’s quite that straightforward for other people doing it. But you have that right when you win four world championships. And we’re all here fighting to win our first. Maybe after four championships under our belts, we’ll be able to choose to do the same. But no, respect it a lot. And definitely, I would love to do it one day.
Q: (Phil Duncan – PA) Question for you, Lando. Obviously, a lot of these questions to you have been about Max being back in the championship fight. Do you think that McLaren will have to prioritise one driver to ensure they get the Drivers’ Championship over the line? And I guess if you’re behind Oscar, are you concerned that could be you?
LN: I’m very concerned. Yeah. Very worried about it, and scared, frankly. So yeah, I was happy you asked that, actually…. Yeah… No.
Q: (Shuchang Zhuo – Lianhe Zaobao) This is directed to Russell. Last year, they added a couple of DRS zones. This year the FIA has increased the speed limit — like in Zandvoort — can you just share from your experience, do you think that’s going to spice up the race, or do you think, like for Monaco, we need banana peels?
GR: I think the biggest thing for Singapore that’s improved the race is removing the last sector corners. Now, that back straight… I mean, as drivers, you never want to remove corners, but I think before it had 20-something corners, and it was too much. Now it’s a much nicer flow to the circuit, and I think we’re all in agreement that we hope the circuit stays like this and doesn’t return back to its previous state. But yeah, in the past it was always like a one-stop because the pit lane took so long. I think it’s four or five seconds shorter now with this 80-kilometre per hour limit. So maybe it goes more towards a two, but recently a lot of races have been a clear one-stop. So, yeah, I think the rain will probably be the next thing that will spice it up.
Q: (Iwona Holod – Powrotroberta.pl) I have a question for all of you. Speaking about Max’s race in Germany, comparing to Robert Kubica’s case when he took part in rallying a few years ago, and it didn’t go well for him — do you think this kind of ‘hobby’ is okay? Should Formula 1 drivers do it from time to time or not, because of the risk?
GR: I think you have to do what you enjoy in life, and there’s a risk in everything. You know, we can slip on the padel court and break a leg, as an example, or you fall down the stairs in the morning. So I think, obviously, there are certain things that have a greater risk. Obviously, rally is probably a higher risk than racing a GT3 car on a racetrack. But ultimately, we all have to do what we enjoy. This is life. A lot of drivers go skiing as well. You know, you can’t wrap yourself in bubble wrap.
EO: If Max likes to do other types of racing, it’s his right. And if the team lets him do it, he’s going to do it for sure. It was a very different scenario for Robert. And yeah, we are always all thinking, what if that didn’t happen for Robert? Even his comeback in Formula 1 was awesome. I’ve raced against him — George also – in the same team. That was an incredible comeback. But yeah, I’m sure we would have seen him on the top step many more times than what we did.
LN: No, not a worry at all. I mean, any driver can go and do what they want, you know?
Q: (Ian Parkes – RacingNews365) Question for you, George. I know Tom grilled you extensively at the start of your session about your contract, but just to follow up on that a little bit — is there any danger that this will extend beyond the end of this season or it won’t get to that extreme?
GR: No, I don’t think so. It shouldn’t, to be honest. Yeah, things are moving and progressing.
And as I’ve said on numerous occasions before, between races it’s not like we sit at home on the sofa with our feet up and nothing else is going on. You know, I’ve been in Brackley and Brixworth this week, working hard on the sim, looking ahead also to next year. Last week, a couple of sponsor events, training, getting back in shape. So, our schedules are extremely busy. And as I said, there is no necessary danger of that happening. But if it does, it does — but I don’t expect it to.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Again, Esteban. Just picking up on your point there about going to the Nordschleife and doing some car testing there and even playing Gran Turismo. How much is any driving helpful in terms of honing your skills behind the F1 car? I know it probably doesn’t translate very well from Gran Turismo to what you drive today. But how do you find that any driving is useful?
EO: Yeah. I think it is, definitely — especially in long periods where we don’t race, basically from November to — I mean, February now next year. We will drive in January, so it will be very different. But yes, I feel that it’s very useful just to keep your eye in, get more car control. I do a lot of drifting sessions as well during the winter, some go-kart driving or buggy driving. It’s just something I enjoy, but I feel that it is useful at times when you are in certain tricky situations — on the wet or whatever. You lose the car at one point, well, you get your eye in because you’ve done that corner and that situation a million times, basically, in the winter in some other cars. So it’s more the old school guys that were saying how good it was and valuable for them to race in many different categories. I mean, it’s so specific now, F1, that might be a bit less, but you can still get some stuff from other series and learn new things, new skills. As long as you can be in a good car on four wheels on a racetrack, I think it’s always valuable.