Lando Norris took aim at Red Bull after qualifying for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, after inadvertently slowing Max Verstappen down late in the session.
The Brit will line up fifth on the grid at the Marina Bay Circuit, after a disappointing lack of performance from McLaren on the tricky street track.
Coming into the weekend, Norris and papaya squad had hopes the high downforce circuit would suit the MCL39, and allow it to return to winning ways.
A pace deficit seen across practice was replicated in qualifying, as Norris consistently lapped over two tenths of a second slower than the top runners.
Q3 exacerbated the problem, finishing a distant fifth, 0.456s adrift of pole-sitter George Russell, with title rivals Oscar Piastri and Verstappen also ahead of him.
Speaking to media after the session, including Motorsport Week, a disconsolate Norris explained the issues behind his and McLarens lack of pace.
“Just in my driving, just didn’t put it all together, its just small margins,” he said.
“I think as a team, the cars not in the right place, we’re not quick enough… I think I’m lacking in the front tyres this weekend. We know that’s a weakness of our car at times. It’s also my worst nightmare is understeer.
“Like we’ve seen in Vegas and things, whenever people struggle to get the front tyres in, Mercedes normally rides to the top, like they’ve done this weekend.
“I think when we put things together and we understand that Mercedes are very quick, which is unusual, but they’ve not been this quick for a long time.
“We’ve put it down to more the track conditions and the new tyre pieces are high grip, very understeery and we just couldn’t get the front of the car to work this weekend.
“We’re still struggling, hopefully less of an issue tomorrow. We’re just not quick enough and I just didn’t do the best job.”
‘They always complain’: Norris bemoans Red Bull after Verstappen misdemeanour
Norris was adjudged by Verstappen to have caused a block to pole, after creating dirty air in which the Dutchman got stuck into at the very end of his final flying lap.
Verstappen ultimately ended up just under two tenths of a second off Russell’s pole time, and will start from second.
The reigning World Champion ominiously declared he would “remember” what happened, bemoaning his ruined shot at taking his first Marina Bay pole.
Asked for his take on the incident, Norris brushed off the other side of the contention, stating: “They always complain. They complain about everything. That’s Red Bull.”
Asked where he lost the time on his own lap, the Briton hinted at mistakes on his qualifying lap, a trait that has followed Norris throughout 2025, admitting to struggling for pace on Soft tyres.
“I’m sure in Singapore every driver will say a little bit more. It’s never easy to push it to the limits here.
“I had a small wall hit out of the last chicane, did it cost me six hundredths or something to get two positions higher? Maybe. Do I think there was a tenth in it for sure, but if I could do it easily or if I knew why I probably would have done it.
“I feel where there’s more lap time out of it. On the Medium tyres this weekend I’ve always felt very comfortable.
“The Mediums have often had more front end and it just suits me, I can get more lap time out of it.
“It feels more reminiscent of last year and the feelings I want from the car, I put the soft on and I struggle again. Still lingering feelings of the car just not performing, I can’t say in the right way because we’ve been very quick all season.
“We also struggled here this weekend and those issues and the issues I’ve had this year, which is the front of the car, seem to have arose again this weekend.”
Asked if he has more confidence on the Medium tyres for Sunday’s Singapore GP, Norris revealed his low expectations, but was hopeful of an attacking race.
“Maybe, but you’ve got to be one second a lap quicker to overtake and no one’s one second a lap quicker. When you’re the leader around here it’s quite easy, as I found out last year.
“Different story for me tomorrow, I have to try and make up some big places with a car that’s not as quick and all these things.
“I’ve not done any high fuel again this weekend. On the back foot a little bit, but it’s a new day so I’m optimistic we can still try and get a few positions.
READ MORE: George Russell storms to F1 Singapore GP pole as McLaren struggles again
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