Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing’s senior advisor, has reportedly called on the organizers of the Singapore Grand Prix and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to review and demote Lando Norris’s starting position following an incident during Saturday’s qualifying session. According to Marko, Norris impeded Max Verstappen’s flying lap, preventing the Dutchman from taking pole position and ultimately leaving him second behind Mercedes driver George Russell. The controversy has sparked heated debate among teams, fans, and commentators ahead of Sunday’s race.
During the crucial final stages of qualifying at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Verstappen was on a strong lap that could have secured him pole. However, as he approached the final sector, he encountered Norris’s McLaren moving slowly on the racing line. Though Norris appeared to move aside at the last moment, Verstappen had already lost time and momentum. His lap was compromised, and he could only secure second place on the grid, 0.082 seconds behind Russell.
Following the session, Helmut Marko expressed frustration at what he called “an unnecessary obstruction” that “directly affected the outcome of qualifying.” He argued that Norris’s actions met the criteria for impeding another driver during a flying lap, a violation typically punished with a grid penalty. “If the rules are applied consistently,” Marko told reporters, “then Norris should be demoted. Max lost a chance at pole through no fault of his own.”
McLaren, on the other hand, has defended Norris, emphasizing that the team had informed the driver about Verstappen’s approach as quickly as possible and that Norris reacted appropriately within a tight timeframe. Team principal Andrea Stella stated that “Lando did everything he could to clear the line safely” and that “the data will show he was not intentionally blocking anyone.”
The FIA stewards reviewed footage and telemetry data from both cars. After a short deliberation, they decided not to impose a penalty on Norris, reasoning that while Verstappen’s lap was indeed affected, the incident did not constitute deliberate or dangerous impeding. The stewards cited mitigating factors such as the narrow layout of the circuit and the high traffic during the final minutes of qualifying.
The decision surprised both Verstappen and Norris. Verstappen admitted in a post-qualifying interview that he “expected something to happen” after the incident was noted by the stewards. “It’s fine; we’ll move on,” he said, though his tone reflected visible disappointment. Norris, for his part, expressed surprise that the issue had escalated to a formal complaint. “I didn’t think it was that serious,” he said. “I moved out of the way as soon as I could. It’s unfortunate if it affected Max, but that was never my intention.”
For Red Bull, the situation adds another layer of tension to an already competitive championship battle. Verstappen, who has dominated much of the season, faces a stronger challenge on circuits like Singapore, where overtaking is difficult and track position is crucial. Helmut Marko’s insistence on stricter rule enforcement underscores Red Bull’s concern that any lost opportunity could carry significant consequences in the title race.
As the teams prepare for the Grand Prix, the incident serves as another reminder of the fine margins in Formula 1 — where a single moment can alter the balance of an entire weekend. Whether the controversy will have lingering effects between Red Bull and McLaren remains to be seen, but for now, all eyes are on how Verstappen and Norris will respond once the lights go out in Singapore.
