Lando Norris fires back at Max Verstappen as tempers flare at Singapore Grand Prix

Lando Norris has hit back at Max Verstappen and Red Bull after the reigning world champion charged him with ruining his final qualifying lap at the Singapore Grand Prix. 'They complain about everything,' the McLaren driver jabbed.

The 25-year-old had already finished his last Q3 effort, which was only good enough for fifth on the grid, and was making his way through the final sector on his way back to the pit lane. At this point, Verstappen came roaring through on his effort as he attempted, unsuccessfully, to dislodge George Russell from the top of the timing screens.

Verstappen caught the dirty air generated by Norris' MCL38 machine and was forced to abandon his effort. After the session, he complained: "In qualifying, you always try to leave gaps of six or seven seconds at least, because you want no disturbance.

"Normally, in Q3, you don't see a car unless you're on a different programme, but around here it's quite clear what you want to do, so you leave quite big gaps to everyone. But of course, sometimes it happens on a street circuit that people are bored and make mistakes.

"So when you then get a car two or three seconds in front of you, you need every bit of clean air that you can have on a Q3 lap especially, because you are fully on the limit with braking and everything, and then I lost a bit of downforce with that, so I went straight on."

Norris was asked about the comments after the session, and had a clear message for his rival. "They always complain," he said. "They always complain about everything. That's Red Bull."

For Norris, the recent form of Verstappen and Red Bull will be of real concern. The Brit is only 44 points ahead of the reigning world champion with seven races remaining, and with the Dutchman now a consistent threat for race victories, he can ill afford any below-par weekends if he is to beat team-mate Oscar Piastri to the title.

"Others have improved," Norris told Sky Sports F1, assessing McLaren's current standing. "Mercedes have done a good job. Red Bull have been good the last two weekends. Nothing is a surprise. Singapore has always been a bit of a weird one. We know we struggle whenever we struggle with the front tyres, we struggle a lot as a team.

"The whole weekend we have been struggling with the front tyres. Contrary to that, everyone struggles with the fronts. Mercedes is always the team that comes out on top, like in Las Vegas last year. I think we understand when you put two and two together, why we struggled. The front of the car is not strong enough, too much understeer so you have to make compromises. Today makes you feel like no matter who you are fighting, it just feels disappointing that we are not quick enough."