Norris pokes fun at Russell as Mercedes star fights tears after F1 crash
Lando Norris joked that George Russell ‘copied him’ with his late crash during the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Mercedes star looked to be well on the way to a podium finish at Marina Bay on Sunday. However, he clipped the outside wall on the approach to turn 10 and careered into the barrier, ending his race just shortly before the end.
Norris, who was going head-to-head with Russell for second place, gave his verdict on the crash after the game and teased his countryman but still claimed he was full of sympathy. “I hit the wall in the same place, I did the same,” the McLaren star told media. “So I think he copied me and did it even worse!
“So I feel for him, he fought a tough race, he was the quickest I would say out there today. So it helped me a bit, the last couple of corners I could chill.”
Whilst Norris could see the light of the situation, the same could not be said of Russell. He was immediately put in front of the cameras after being forced to retire and was visibly emotional.
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He said: "No words to be honest. Such a long, physical race. Difficult to keep concentration. Carlos [Sainz] did a great job backing the pack up, not allowing us to do the alternative strategy.
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“I think we were half a car's length from winning the race had I got past Lando when I had the opportunity, I think we would have been able to get past Carlos.
"Then just the last lap, a millimetre lapse of concentration and game over. So just sorry to the whole team. It was a really challenging race, the tyres were dropping off and you are pushing the limits. That's how racing should be, you make a small mistake and you are bitten for it."
The crash eventually allowed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to run out the victor - his first win since last season’s British Grand Prix. Meanwhile, it was the first time that Russell was unable to finish since the 2021 campaign.
Away from Norris’ cheeky joke, reigning world champion Max Verstappen also had a somewhat abrupt response to the incident. After being left confused by the smash, the Dutchman radioed Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to get more details.
He said: "So by whom did he [Russell] go into the barrier?” To which he received the reply: "On his own.”
Verstappen then gave his own short and sweet response as he replied: “Oh…ok.” The current Championship leader was one of those to benefit from Russell’s crash as he rose from bottom of the grid to finish fifth.
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