Norris unapologetic: 'If you fault me, you shouldn’t be in Formula 1’

An unapologetic Lando Norris refused to back down after a daring move against his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix sparked a lively debate across the F1 paddock.

The British driver, who clipped both Max Verstappen and Piastri in a dramatic first-lap tussle, insisted his aggressive maneuver was pure racing – and anyone who disagrees “shouldn’t be in Formula 1.”

The incident unfolded at Marina Bay’s Turn 3, where Norris, launching a bold, inside attack on Piastri, came perilously close to taking out Piastri in the tricky, still damp conditions.

Speaking after the race, the Briton explained the circumstances.

“The start was good. The right-hand side of the grid was good, I think it was a good launch as well, so I got across and put myself in a good position to not get checked up out of turn one and into turn two,” he said.

“I just had a big [move] up on the inside of Oscar. It was very close [and] so slippery because it was still damp in places and drying out. I think I just clipped the back of Max’s car, and that just gave me a little correction, but then that was it.”

When McLaren race engineer Tom Stallard informed Piastri that Norris had merely reacted to Verstappen ahead, the Aussie still voiced his displeasure.

“If he has to avoid another car by crashing into his team mate, then that’s a pretty shit job of avoiding,” he quipped over the radio in the heat of the moment.

Norris’ Defiant Defense

In the post-race press conference, Norris remained unflinching. While acknowledging he might review the move, he refused to shoulder undue blame.

“I still need to go in and see it, I might look at it and think there’s something else I could have done better,” he said.

“But anyone on the grid would have done exactly the same thing as I did. So I think if you fault me for just going on the inside and putting my car on the inside of a big gap then I think you shouldn’t be in Formula 1.

“I don’t think there was anything wrong that I did. Of course, I misjudged a little bit how close I was to Max, but that’s racing. Nothing happened otherwise, and I’m sure I still would have ended up ahead of Oscar anyway because I was on the inside and he would have had the dirty side of the track on the outside.

“So I need to go and review it, of course. I need to look at things and see if there was something I could have done better. The last thing I want is to make contact with my team mate, especially because all I get is questions from you guys!”

• Read also: McLaren urges ‘perspective’ on Singapore GP opening-lap clash

Norris also highlighted the championship context, pointing out the disparity in points between himself and Piastri.

“I’m the one that can’t afford anything compared to him,” he argued. “I would [have] put myself at risk just as much if that kind of thing happens. So I’ll see what I can do with it next time.

“But the FIA obviously thought it was fine, and the team did too, so that’s it.”

With 22 points still separating him from his teammate, Norris’s aggressive Singapore maneuver reflects a driver willing to take calculated risks in pursuit of the championship – no apologies, no hesitation, and certainly no surrender.

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