Singapore GP: Lando Norris excited by Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton problem as he seeks essential F1 win

Lando Norris is relishing the “pretty awesome” problem of battling Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for Singapore GP victory.

He additionally expects the world champion pair to “probably try to play more tricks” every trying to win a race pivotal to the McLaren’s driver’s personal first-time title hopes.

Norris will head a blockbuster grid for Sunday’s race on the Marina Bay avenue circuit, which begins at 1pm stay on Sky Sports activities F1.

For the primary time because the Dutch Grand Prix on the finish of August, the Briton shares the entrance row with defending three-time champion and 59-point title chief Verstappen, who returned to qualifying kind after a collection of disappointing races that has allowed Norris and McLaren to place the Dutchman and Purple Bull below severe championship strain.

Norris then has Hamilton, the game’s most adorned driver, behind the Purple Bull in third after the seven-time champion put his season-long Saturday struggles apart to surge to the pinnacle of an all-Mercedes second row.

For Norris, although, a fifth pole place of the season undoubtedly locations him within the boxseat to attempt to management a race on a avenue observe the place overtaking is infamously troublesome.

However the Briton can also be conscious that beginning instantly forward of drivers who occupy two of the top-three positions on the all-time F1 desk for race wins poses a singular problem to that quest.

“It’s pretty cool that I’m here and there’s 150 wins between them,” stated Norris after beating Verstappen to pole by 0.203s and Hamilton by 0.316s.

“I’ve obtained nothing on them and nothing evaluating to them. So I discover it cool that I am right here and amongst them, and attempting to struggle in opposition to them is fairly superior in my regard.

“I respect them a lot. I’ve looked up to both of them for a long time, both literally and mentally. It doesn’t change what I do and how I go out and drive. I probably know what to expect a bit more from them because I’ve seen them drive and I think they both drive with respect and they both want to drive as clean racing drivers.

“So I feel that is one thing I all the time look ahead to. Nonetheless it ended [with Verstappen] in Austria, I feel we have had an ideal battle there and good battles at different tracks too.

“It doesn’t change anything, I just know that they’ll probably try to play more tricks. They’re smarter than probably the other drivers and know how to play the longer game or the shorter game more than probably other drivers too. So probably just respect it more and enjoy being here with two greats of the sport.”

Will Norris shed undesirable first-lap file from pole?

Whereas he can not but match the profession achievements of the drivers he’ll race head-to-head with on Sunday, one statistic Norris might be determined to right away enhance upon is his personal file when ranging from pole place in F1.

Extremely, on the 5 earlier events he has began from the entrance of the sector, the 24-year-old has failed to steer the race on the finish of the opening lap.

Most lately, he dropped to 3rd behind team-mate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at Monza three weeks in the past in opening exchanges that value him the race win.

Certainly, Norris’ solely victory from a Grand Prix when beginning first in got here at Zandvoort the week earlier than that. He misplaced out to Verstappen at the beginning there, however then handed the world champion in a while earlier than happening to dominate the race.

However after a stellar weekend to date in his spectacular McLaren, an optimistic Norris stated: “Confident that the car’s good in both qualy and race.

“We confirmed that already on Friday. So assured if I can simply get forward, then I get my head down and might go away.”

He added to Sky Sports F1: “I am positive Max goes to make my life troublesome, and that is what he is there to do.

“But concentrate on myself, crack on, and I’ll be good.”

Verstappen: I need to win – I need to go for that

Whereas Norris had given discover of his robust Singapore tempo all by way of apply, a problem from Verstappen had appeared much less prone to materialise with Purple Bull having once more proved off the tempo on Friday on a bogey observe they toiled at of their otherwise-unbeaten season final yr.

However main adjustments to the RB20 in a single day introduced Verstappen again into play and, with Ferrari’s qualifying problem falling flat in Q3 and Piastri disappointing, the Dutchman pounced to hitch Norris on the head of the grid.

A relieved Verstappen is of course now setting his sights on a primary victory in Singapore, though he additionally spoke about the necessity to play the proportion sport on a circuit McLaren clearly are superior round.

“I want to win. I want to go for that,” declared Verstappen, who’s on a seven-race drought since triumphing at June’s Spanish GP.

“If I see the opportunity, I’m going for it. But of course, in general, it’s about collecting points at every single race. The whole weekend here we were lacking massively and McLaren and especially Lando, they were flying, so it could have easily been P1 against P10 or something.

“So to be on the entrance row with Lando is excellent. Once I see alternatives, we’ll attempt to take them. However on the finish of the day, it is nonetheless a protracted season, plenty of races the place now we have to carry out.”

Will Hamilton be an element within the struggle for victory too? ‘Something can occur’

Hamilton will begin because the highest-placed Mercedes on the grid for simply the fifth time in 18 races this yr and expressed reduction at having fun with a uncommon robust Saturday in 2024.

“On my side, qualifying has been a nightmare for a year or so, or at least most of this year, and it’s been something I’ve really been working on,” he advised Sky Sports activities F1.

“There’s definitely been a lot of work I’ve had to do mentally to try to just hold on to it and to continue to believe. Then the races have been strong, generally through the year I race well. But it makes it so much harder when you don’t qualify well.”

Like Purple Bull, Mercedes made wholesale adjustments to their automobile for Saturday after an uncompetitive begin and Hamilton due to this fact admits “it’s difficult to know where we will be balance-wise for the race”, though is assured “the car is in a better place”.

Referencing each the controversy over McLaren’s entrance and rear wings that has rumbled by way of the game in current races, and the Austrian GP collision between Verstappen and Norris again in June, Hamilton stated of the problem forward of him: “If we can hold on to these guys, anything can happen at this track, so tyre degradation’s going to be key.

“I feel the McLaren is simply too quick with their front-wing shifting, rear-wing shifting, they’re lightning in the mean time and that is going to be arduous to beat. However I am going to keep hopeful and provides it every thing.

“We have seen these two at the start of the race, and in races, anything can happen. So I will try just to try and make sure I’m there to capitalise on whatever it is.”

Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Singapore GP schedule

Sunday September 22
8.30am: F1 Academy Race Two
11:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
1pm: The SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Singapore GP response
4pm: Ted’s Pocket book

System 1’s thrilling 2024 season continues stay on Sky Sports activities F1 below the lights on the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday at 2pm. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime