Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen took a jab at McLaren’s Lando Norris after the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying.
The Dutchman secured second on the grid for the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. “You can thank your mate for that. Hard luck,” Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase said over the team radio.
Advertisement
Verstappen accused his McLaren rival of ruining his final flying lap while speaking to David Coulthard following the session.
“That’s what happens when there’s a car in front of you just cruising two seconds in front. That’s noted, it will be remembered as well,” Verstappen explained.
When asked which driver he was speaking about, Verstappen clarified:Â “Not Oscar. So that was a bit of a shame, otherwise I think it could have been close for pole.
Advertisement
“It’s always very exciting here in qualifying. Of course I’m disappointed to not be first, but for us this weekend so far has been really good. The car has been very competitive, so for us to be second again is very good.”
He later clarified it was indeed Norris.
Replays showed that Norris was ahead of the Red Bull driver at the final chicane during his last flying lap, but 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button argued that the McLaren driver was not required to move over before the chicane.
Advertisement
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
“With these cars, you get affected by a car a couple of seconds up the road, which is a pain, but that’s why they move over immediately,” Button said on Sky Sports F1.
“I think he’s frustrated Lando didn’t move over before the chicane. He doesn’t have to within the regulations, but it obviously hurt his front end as he turned into the corner and put him off line.”
Advertisement
Mercedes driver George Russell claimed pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, and joining Russell and Verstappen starting in the top three was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Photos from Singapore GP – Practice & QualifyingGeorge Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Mark Thompson – Getty Images
Advertisement
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Stake F1 Team
Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Stake F1 Team
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Mark Thompson – Getty Images
Advertisement
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal of Cadillac Formula 1 Team
Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal of Cadillac Formula 1 Team
Clive Mason / Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Clive Rose / Getty Images
Advertisement
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Advertisement
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Advertisement
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Advertisement
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Advertisement
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Colin McMaster / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Colin McMaster / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Advertisement
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.