Singapore GP: Lando Norris cheered by Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton’s challenge in pursuit of important F1 win | F1 News

Lando Norris relishes the “pretty awesome” challenge of taking on Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for Singapore GP victory.

He also expects a pair of world champions to each “probably try to play more tricks” trying to win a pivotal race for the McLaren driver himself hoping for the first title.

Norris will lead the blockbuster grid for Sunday’s race at the Marina Bay street circuit, which from 1pm live on Sky Sports F1.

For the first time since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August, the Briton shared the front row with three-time champion and 59-point title leader Verstappen, who returned to qualifying form after a series of disappointing races that allowed Norris. and McLaren to put the Dutchman and Red Bull under serious championship pressure.

Norris then had Hamilton, the sport’s best driver, behind Red Bull in third after the seven-time champion put aside Saturday’s season-long struggle to move up the all-Mercedes second row.

However, for Norris, his fifth pole position of the season certainly put him in the boxseat to try and control the race on the road track that followed.

But the Briton also knows that starting directly before the driver who occupies two of the top three positions in the F1 all-time table for race wins makes the quest unique.

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

“I have nothing and no one to compare to him. So I feel good to be here and among him, and to try against him is amazing.

“I respect them very much. I have 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 have seen them drive and I think they drive with respect and they want to drive as clean racing drivers.

“So I think it’s something I always look forward to. But finished (with Verstappen) in Austria, I had a great fight there and a good fight on other tracks as well.

“It doesn’t change anything, I just know that they will probably try to play more tricks. They are smarter than probably other drivers and know how to play a longer game or a shorter game more than probably other drivers too. So they may be more respected and happy are here with two great sportsmen.

Will Norris drop his unexpected first lap record from pole?

While he is yet to match the career achievements of the drivers who will race on Sunday, one statistic Norris will be desperate to immediately improve is his own record for pole position starts in F1.

Incredibly, on the previous five occasions he had started from the front of the field, the 24-year-old had failed to lead the race at the end of the opening lap.

Most recently, he dropped to third behind team-mate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at Monza three weeks ago in the open exchange that cost him the race.

Indeed, Norris’ only victory came from a race he started for the first time at Zandvoort the week before.

But after a fantastic weekend in the stunning McLaren, an optimistic Norris said: “I’m sure the car will be good in the race and the race.

“We’ve shown that on Friday. So I’m confident that I can go forward, then I go down and I can go.”

Verstappen: I want to win – I’m going for it

While Norris has hinted at Singapore’s strong pace in practice, a challenge from Verstappen looks unlikely to happen with Red Bull after once again proving his speed on Friday at the bogey track that led to last year’s unbeaten season. .

But a major change in the RB20 overnight brought Verstappen back into the game and, with Ferrari’s qualifying challenge falling flat in Q3, the Dutchman pounced to join Norris at the head of the grid.

A naturally relaxed Verstappen is now setting his sights on the first victory in Singapore, although he also spoke about the need to play the percentage game in the circuit McLaren is clearly superior around.

“I want to win. I’m going for that,” said Verstappen, who is in a seven-race drought since triumphing in June’s Spanish GP.

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

“So to be in the front row with Lando is very good. When I see an opportunity, we will try to take it. But at the end of the day, it is still a long season, many races where we have to do. .”

Will Hamilton be a factor in the fight for victory as well? ‘Anything can happen’

Hamilton will start as the top Mercedes on the grid for the fifth time in 18 races this year and expressed his relief at enjoying a rare Saturday in 2024.

“For me, qualifying has been a nightmare for a year or so, or at least this year, and that’s what I’ve done,” he said. Sky Sports F1.

“Definitely a lot of work I have to do mentally to try to hold on and keep believing. Then the race has been strong, generally throughout the year, I’ve raced well. it’s harder when you don’t have a good qualification.”

Like Red Bull, Mercedes made wholesale changes to the car on Saturday after an uncompetitive start and Hamilton admitted “it’s difficult to know where we will be in balance for the race”, although he believes “the car is in a better place”.

Referring to the two controversies over McLaren’s front and rear wings that have plagued the sport in recent races, and the Austrian GP collision between Verstappen and Norris in June, Hamilton said of the challenge ahead: “If we can hold on to this, man, whatever can happen on this track, so tire degradation is key.

“I think McLaren is very fast with the movement of the front wing, the rear wing, they are lightning right now and will be hard to beat. But I will keep my hopes up and give it my all.”

“We’ve seen these two at the start of the race, and in a race, anything can happen. So I’m going to try just to try and make sure I’m there to capitalize on something.”

Singapore GP schedule live Sky Sports F1

Sunday, September 22
8.30: F1 Academy Race Two
11:30: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
13.00: SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
15:00 Checkered Flag: Singapore GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook

Formula 1’s thrilling 2024 season continues live on Sky Sports F1 under the lights at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with Sports Month Membership NOW – No contract, cancel anytime