SportsNews

Verstappen responds to Norris after Singapore GP frustration: “That’s exactly what I would say”

Published

2 months ago

October 5, 2025

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing © Autosport.com

For Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, the qualifying session in Singapore has gone according to plan – and given recent history at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, perhaps even better than expected. Just like last year, the Dutchman secured second place on the grid under the floodlights, although the feeling is different this time. Red Bull has made progress, and this weekend provides confirmation of that progress on a high-downforce circuit.

Although that’s essentially good news for Verstappen, he still showed some frustration after the session. He claims that Lando Norris hindered him in the final stages of Q3, not by blocking, but in Verstappen’s opinion by creating dirty air and driving slowly a few seconds ahead of the Red Bull driver.

The dirty air effect in Singapore

“It would have been really close,” Verstappen replied during his Dutch media round when asked if pole had been possible. “That first lap from George was very strong, but we definitely had the potential to fight for it. I could see it on my steering wheel as well during that second lap in Q3,” he refers to the delta times that drivers can see.

“Especially in Q3, you simply can’t afford to have a car that close in front of you. Everyone leaves at least an eight seconds’ gap. With these cars and the amount of downforce you have, you don’t want anyone in front of you at all. I don’t know what happened there, but it seemed unnecessary to me, to drive into the pits so slowly.”

A penalty for the driver ahead was of course never in question, although Verstappen stressed he felt affected. “You can’t say he’s holding you up, because he isn’t, he’s not blocking. But these cars are so sensitive to turbulence and dirty air, you really don’t want that in qualifying. It’s an unwritten rule that you just don’t do things like that.”

While Verstappen stated Norris was around two seconds in front of him at that moment, the reigning champion added that the impact of dirty air is felt even further back. “We don’t want to be within six or seven seconds of any car ahead. Absolutely not,” Verstappen clarified when asked by Autosport.

Norris, for his part, brushed off the claims and emphasised that Red Bull “always has something to complain about.”

“Well, that’s exactly what I would say as well if I were him,” Verstappen laughed in response. Asked whether he intends to “get back” at Norris at some point, Verstappen paused: “I don’t know…” After it was pointed out that he had already given his answer over the team radio when the Dutchman remarked that the moment “will be remembered,” Verstappen added: “Yes”.

Is Verstappen a factor again for the McLaren drivers?

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
© Autosport.com

The fact that conversations now revolve around such small moments says something about Red Bull’s recent progress. It indicates that Verstappen has once again become a factor in F1’s title fight, although he doesn’t want to get involved in any mental games.

“I honestly don’t care about those things at all,” he said. “I just live my life and do my own thing at the track. Then I go home and do other things. If others have me in their heads, then that’s their problem.”

The main point, Verstappen stressed, is that Red Bull can once again compete for top results on a track that normally poses a bigger challenge.

“Of course, that moment wasn’t ideal, and of course I’d prefer to be on pole, but ultimately we’re still starting second,” he said. “For us, that’s a very good result on a track like this, especially looking at the way we’ve achieved it. We were extremely competitive, and that’s what really matters to me.”

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SportsNews

EPL: Full list of players leaving for 2025 AFCON

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.

FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.

Full list of players confirmed

Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).

Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),

West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)

Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)

Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)

SportsNews

NNL bars fans from Ranchers Bees vs Adamawa United

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.

The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.

Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.

Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.

The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.

The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).

SportsNews

Nigeria vs Egypt Friendly Gets New Date

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.

EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.

Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.

Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.

Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.

The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.

Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.

The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.

Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.