Lando Norris took a tongue-in-cheek dig at George Russell after the Mercedes driver crashed out of the 2023 Singapore GP on the final lap trying to chase down the McLaren.
Russell looked set to challenge Norris for second and potentially the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz for a win in the closing stages of the race after he pitted for fresh medium tyres under a virtual safety car caused by the retirement of Esteban Ocon.
Eventual winner Sainz played tactically as he opted to back up Norris with the DRS into the Mercedes, and while Russell was chasing the McLaren he went into the wall on the final lap, bringing his hopes of a podium to an abrupt end.
Norris himself revealed that he himself had actually tapped the same wall before Russell had gone into it, prompting a cheeky response from the Brit.
“I hit the wall in the same place, I did the same,” Norris told the media after the race. “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.”
Generous Sainz
Norris and Sainz had a good relationship while working together at McLaren before the Spaniard joined Ferrari, and the Brit said he was grateful to his old teammate for helping him in Singapore – even if he did it to bolster his own race.
“Carlos was very generous trying to help me get DRS,” Norris said. “It helped my race and also helped his.
“We knew it was going to be tough as soon as the Mercedes boxed, especially with only a couple of cars for them to overtake. But we’re on the podium, P2, we had them off. We did everything we needed to do and more. So I’m super happy.”
