Lando Norris has reacted scathingly to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell skipping media duties at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Mercedes duo both suffered an apparent health scare in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s race in Marina Bay, which took place in searing heat and humidity.
Hamilton started the Grand Prix in third place, but eventually crossed the line in sixth following an erratic performance over the 62 laps.
His younger team-mate finished fourth after using an alternative strategy, missing out on a podium place to Oscar Piastri.
But the pair were absent from their obligatory post-race media duties due to suffering with signs of heatstroke.
Lando Norris after his win in Singapore. (Image: Getty)
The Silver Arrows released a team statement to explain the situation, saying: “Unfortunately neither George or Lewis will be attending the media pen this evening as they recover from the exertions of this evening’s race.”
Pep Guardiola previews Fulham clash
Team principal Toto Wolff later addressed the media in the paddock in person, explaining: “They did not feel well, borderline heatstroke or something like that, but they have had water.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell suffered reported heatstroke in Singapore. (Image: Getty)
“They would not have been able to go to the media pen. There were no bad feelings or any annoyance, it is just that we had the doctors with them. But they are all good.”
Norris, who produced a dominant display to take the chequered flag ahead of Max Verstappen, has now issued a brutal response. And he was seemingly angered by Wolff’s implication that his drivers were worse off than anyone else who took to the grid.
“Toto Wolff issues health update on Hamilton and Russell?” he ranted. “F***ing hell, it’s tough for everyone! Why do they think that they’ve… Everyone’s got heatstroke if they’ve got heatstroke.”
The bullish comments follow Norris cutting Verstappen’s overall lead in the drivers’ standings to 52 points. And with six Grands Prix remaining in 2024, a title race which previously appeared a formality is now very much alive.
In his own post-race reaction, the McLaren man lauded the current performance of his car. And there was no mention of the conditions he was forced to race in, with the race getting underway in temperatures of around 30 degrees celsius.
“It was an amazing race,” he said. “A few too many close calls. I had a couple of moments in the middle but I was well in control otherwise. The car was mega so I could push and we were flying the whole race.”
