‘You messed up’ – Lando Norris hits out at ‘BS’ F1 reporter who caused George Russell clash post-race

Lando Norris slammed ‘media nonsense’ that threatened to spark a fallout with George Russell before a career-defining Qatar Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver’s frustration proved that tension couldn’t be greater ahead of a race in which he could become F1 world champion.

Norris qualified second for the penultimate grand prix of the season, behind his teammate and championship rival, Oscar Piastri.

The 26-year-old knows that should he overhaul his fellow McLaren driver to win in Qatar, then he will claim his first driver’s title.

However, it could have been better for Norris had he not aborted his final run in Q3 and beaten Piastri to pole position.

The Bristol-born racer had overtaken Mercedes man Russell at the start of his final flying lap before making an error and backing off.

And Norris was visibly on edge, standing next to his fellow Brit in the media pen after qualifying, having been accused of blaming the 27-year-old for losing pole.

Norris and Russell in Qatar full transcript

In footage from a TV interview with DAZN, Russell said: “You told the media the reason you messed up was because of me.”

Norris replied: “Who said that?”

Russell: “Someone said you’re blaming me.”

Norris: “We’re with media, mate. Don’t listen to that bulls***. Can’t believe you believe them over me. Pretty disappointed.”

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Russell to Norris: ‘Stirring it’

Russell: “It sounded like something you would say, though.”

Norris: “What even happened? Where were you? You let me pass?”

Russell: “I was going to give you a tow to help you win the championship.”

Norris: “You let me pass in 1, and I messed up in 2.”

Russell then turned around to point out the alleged reporter responsible, remarking: “She said it; She’s stirring.”

To emphasise his point, the ex-Williams driver did a stirring gesture to the cameras, before later adding: “I’m playing with him.”

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Russell v Norris interview in Qatar

The two then went their separate ways to conduct further interviews, in which both were asked about the exchange.

Sky’s Rachael Brookes asked Norris: “What was that with George? Don’t fall out with him ahead of Turn 1.”

Norris: “Nah, George doing George stuff, nothing more.”

Brookes: “He wasn’t winding you up, was he?”

Norris: “No, all good.”

Russell, meanwhile, already had to correct Simon Lazenby over his alleged plans to get ‘aggressive’ at the start of Sunday’s race.

He said, “One person in the TV pen told me that Lando said that I blocked him at Turn 1, and that’s why he made a mistake.

“And that turned out to be a load of BS.”

“I actually said that I’m not going to do more risk or less risk than any other race because I’m probably slightly more calculated this year than in the past.

“Honestly, I don’t really care about the three in front. I’m racing for myself, but if there is an opportunity, I go for it, and if not, then I don’t.”