P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mark Hughes takes a closer look at Max Verstappen’s Norris interference claim – and why McLaren was absent from the Singapore GP pole battle
The pole battle in the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying was closely fought, potentially influenced by the dirty air from a car returning to the pits, specifically Lando Norris’s McLaren; however, McLaren’s role in the pole fight was limited. George Russell set a strong pole lap in the Mercedes, with Max Verstappen challenging, encountering difficulty in the final corners due to Norris’s dirty air.
Verstappen’s encounter with Norris’s dirty air caused him to run wide, realizing he had lost the pole position, eventually settling for second place behind Russell. There was frustration from Verstappen towards Norris for not getting back to the pits quickly, impacting the qualifying session dynamics.
Despite claims that Verstappen was briefly ahead of Russell before running wide, the time gained by overshooting the corner was negated by the time lost, emphasizing the misleading nature of that argument. The Mercedes vs. Red Bull pole fight highlighted the competitive improvements of Red Bull’s aero efficiency and balance, allowing for a closer battle between the two teams.
