Friendship crumbles as Max Verstappen rages over Lando Norris obstruction in Singapore F1 qualifying

Oscar Piastri has struck a blow over nearest Formula 1 championship challenger Lando Norris by outqualifying his teammate at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Yet both McLarens were surprisingly off the pace as Piastri could only finish third and Norris fifth in qualifying on Saturday evening (Sunday AEST) at the Marina Bay Street Circuit behind George Russell, who grabbed pole for Mercedes.

Champion Max Verstappen will be on the front row alongside big rival Russell, but Red Bull’s world champion was raging about losing a prospective pole because he’d had to abort his final flying lap because he’d been obstructed by Norris.

“That is noted, will be remembered as well,” growled the Dutchman as he stood alongside Piastri for the post-session interviews.

Asked who got in his way after the broadcast did not make it clear, Verstappen offered a pointed reply that drew a wry smile from Piastri and awkward laughs from all involved.

“Not Oscar,” Verstappen said.

“So yeah that was a bit of shame because otherwise I think it could’ve been close for pole.”

The episode was the latest instance of the long off-track friendship between Verstappen and Norris appearing to crumble.

The previously close pair seemed to grow apart during last season’s title fight and Verstappen’s engineer Gianpiero Lambiase on Saturday hinted at the frustrations.

“You can thank your mate for that,” Lambiase told Verstappen after Norris held him up.

Norris hit back later: “They always complain. They complain about everything. That’s Red Bull.”

McLaren need only one podium finisher on Sunday to wrap up the constructors’ title, and it’s advantage Piastri after the Australian finished two places clear of Norris, who revealed how he’s been struggling with illness.

That certainly won’t help the English contender in the demanding, sweltering conditions under the lights, with Piastri having a real chance to extend his 25-point lead in the championship.

“Obviously, I would have wanted more, but I don’t think we had four-tenths in it to go and get pole,” said Piastri, whose best lap of 1:29.524 was 0.366sec slower than Russell’s 1:29.158.

“So ultimately, pretty happy. Feel like it’s been a good weekend so far, and we built up through it nicely. Ultimately it was a pretty clean session, so that’s all I could ask for.”

Like others, the Australian was still a bit taken aback at McLaren’s lack of pace: “But we’ve not had the easiest last couple of weekends, but I do think we felt after practice we had a better chance.”

Piastri was adamant he wouldn’t be playing it safe on Sunday to just stay ahead of Norris.

“Obviously, if there’s an opportunity to finish higher than I’m starting, then I’ll try and take it,” Piastri said.

“But I’m not just going to settle for the position I’m in, or any position just ahead of Lando. I want to maximise the race I can get.

“It’s very tough to overtake around here. You need a fair bit of extra pace to get past someone, so we’ll see if we’ve got that tomorrow.”

Norris just shrugged: “I think others are just improving. Mercedes are doing a very good job. Red Bull have been very good the last few weekends, so nothing is a surprise.”

But while he admitted to have been struggling after not feeling too well since arriving in Singapore, he was again making no excuses about his performances.

“I just didn’t do the best job,” he said.

Especially not in Verstappen’s eyes. The Dutchman, coming off two wins, reckoned Norris blocking him probably cost him another pole.

“The lap itself was coming nicely but, unfortunately, I had a car like two seconds in front of me in the financial chicane. That’s not nice when it happens; it could have been avoided,” Verstappen said.

It was the second pole of the year for Russell following the Canadian Grand Prix in June, which he went on to win.

Less than two weeks on from their best finish in years in Baku, Williams had both cars disqualified for a technical infringement.

Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr qualified 12th and 13th but will start at the back of the grid because part of the rear wings of their cars “exceeded the maximum limit” allowed by the regulations during a check of the DRS overtaking aid.

- with 7NEWS