Norris laments ‘missing feeling’ as McLaren clinches title after Singapore clash

When Lando Norris, Formula 1 driver for McLaren said he was "missing all the feeling I had here last year" after the Singapore Grand Prix on 5 October 2025, the comment echoed across paddocks and fan forums alike. The 2025 race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit delivered a stark contrast to Norris’s triumph there in 2024, and the weekend quickly became a case study in how quickly fortunes can shift. Adding to the drama, teammate Oscar Piastri clipped wheels with Norris on the opening lap, while George Russell walked away in a surprise victory and Max Verstappen finished ahead of the McLaren duo. Yet, amid the on‑track tension, Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, and his crew celebrated clinching the 2025 Constructors’ Championship – the team’s first back‑to‑back title since 1991.

Background: Norris’s 2024 Triumph at Marina Bay

Last year, Norris turned the wet‑and‑wild Singapore streets into a personal showcase, pulling off a dominant win that felt like a career‑defining moment. Starting from third on the grid, he navigated the slippery corners with surgical precision, set the fastest lap, and held off a late charge from Verstappen. That performance not only earned him his maiden Grand Prix victory but also cemented McLaren’s resurgence after years of midfield stagnation.

Fast‑forward to 2025, expectations were sky‑high. Fans expected Norris to replicate the magic, especially after a strong showing in the early Asian swing. Instead, the atmosphere was tense from the get‑go.

Weekend Drama at Marina Bay

The rain‑soaked start on Sunday saw the grid line up in damp conditions, a factor that would shape the entire race. As the lights went out, Norris launched well, positioning himself on the inside of Piastri into Turn 1. By Turn 3, the two McLaren cars were elbow‑to‑elbow when a mis‑calculated line caused the British duo to make contact, briefly locking wheels.

Piastri’s radio message was unmistakable: “So are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way?” The stewards logged the incident but classified it as a racing incident, noting that neither car suffered lasting damage. It was a bruising moment for team harmony, especially given McLaren’s internal "rules of engagement" that emphasise clean racing between teammates.

Behind the scenes, the team’s data engineers were busy analysing tyre wear. Norris pitted on lap 26 for the hard compound, a stop that lasted 2.1 seconds and shuffled him into fourth place. He set a personal best of 1 minute 35.555 seconds on lap 36, but that was still 1.747 seconds off the pace, placing him seventh overall.

• Start position: 5th (Norris)
• Fastest lap: 1:35.555 (Norris, lap 36)
• Pit stop: lap 26, 2.1 seconds (hard tyres)
• Final position: 3rd (Norris), 4th (Piastri)

Meanwhile, George Russell, piloting the Mercedes‑powered car, seized an unexpected opening on the restart and surged ahead, eventually crossing the line first. Verstappen, despite a minor lock‑up, reclaimed second place, leaving the McLarens to battle for the remaining podium spots.

McLaren Secures the 2025 Constructors' Championship

Even with the on‑track friction, the points haul was enough for McLaren to seal the Constructors’ title on Sunday – a feat not achieved in consecutive years since the championship‑winning era of the early ’90 s. Andrea Stella, beaming with pride, addressed the media after the race: “We’ve worked for this for a decade. The drivers gave us the performance, and the engineers delivered the reliability.”

The title was clinched with a total of 765 points, edging out Red Bull by 12 points. The win not only validates the team’s technical overhaul under Stella’s leadership but also adds pressure on the drivers as they head into the final six races.

Driver Tensions and Team Dynamics

Inside the McLaren garage, the contact between Norris and Piastri has sparked a broader conversation about driver hierarchy and future strategies. Both drivers are still in contention for the Drivers’ Championship, with Norris sitting fourth in the standings and Piastri fifth, a mere three points apart.

Team principal Stella has promised a “fair and open” approach, but insiders say the "rules of engagement" will be revisited. "We told the lads early on that intra‑team battles are fine, but ‘no contact’ is non‑negotiable," one engineer confided anonymously. "If the friction escalates, we might need to step in – perhaps with a team order or a revised strategy for the remaining races."

Adding another layer, the Friday practice session (FP2) saw Norris and Charles Leclerc collide in the pit lane, an incident that, while minor, underscored the heightened stakes and tight margins at a street circuit like Singapore.

Implications for the Championship

With the Constructors’ title secured, McLaren can now focus entirely on the Drivers’ battle. Russell’s victory, though unexpected, keeps Mercedes in the mix for the final race, while Verstappen remains a formidable threat.

The next round in Japan (Suzuka) offers a classic high‑speed showdown. Norris will need to rediscover the “feeling” he missed in Singapore, while Piastri must avoid another clash that could cost valuable points. If the two can keep their rivalry constructive, McLaren could potentially sweep the top two spots – a scenario that would be historic for the team.

For fans, the takeaway is clear: the 2025 season is entering its climax, and every decision – from tyre choices to radio messages – could tip the scales. As the dust settles on the Marina Bay streets, the F1 world watches closely to see whether McLaren’s internal drama fuels a championship surge or becomes a cautionary tale.

Key Facts

• Date: 5 October 2025
• Location: Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit
• Winner: George Russell
• McLaren drivers: Lando Norris (3rd) & Oscar Piastri (4th)
• Constructors' title: McLaren (first back‑to‑back since 1991)