Dutch F1 pundit explains why McLaren star Lando Norris drove like a ‘rookie’ in Singapore

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Lando Norris has edged one step closer to the Formula 1 title after winning the Singapore Grand Prix in dominant fashion.

The Brit secured his fourth pole position in six races around the streets of Marina Bay as Max Verstappen did not have an answer to the McLaren as he lined up second.

Helmut Marko hoped that Verstappen could jump Norris due to his poor race starts, but the McLaren held his own to finally lead the first lap of a race from pole.

Norris blasted into the distance and led every lap to take his third victory of the season by 20.9 seconds over Verstappen, the second largest winning margin of 2024.

Marko was left stunned by Norris’ pace in Singapore as Red Bull struggled for performance once again compared to McLaren. The Milton Keynes-based squad have fallen 41 points behind their rivals in the constructors’ standings as the team look set to lose their crown.

But despite Norris’ dominance at the Singapore Grand Prix, not everyone was too impressed by the Brit’s performance.

Allard Kalff says Lando Norris drove like a ‘rookie’ at the Singapore Grand Prix

Norris was denied the first ‘grand slam’ in Formula 1 since Mika Hakkinen in 1998 by Daniel Ricciardo, as the Visa Cash App RB driver secured the fastest lap of the race in what could be his final race in the sport.

The Brit also appeared to have lapses in concentration throughout the race as he clipped the wall twice, particularly having one scary moment at turn 10 as he almost took off his front wing.

Verstappen was left stunned in the cooldown room by the incident as Norris almost ended his race by his own accord.

And speaking on Viaplay Sport Nederland, Allard Kalff was left thinking Norris drove like a ‘rookie’ despite the advantage he had over the field.

“Well, if it happens to me, people always [will say] that is why you don’t drive in Formula 1, and when it happens to him, it’s too stupid to say, I really mean that,” he said.

“It’s too stupid to say that he makes those little mistakes, because do not forget, he’s not a rookie, right?

Piastri is at the moment the better one. Piastri, he has I think, he’s driven 37 Formula 1 races and I think it is already Norris’ fifth season. So he is not a rookie right?

“He has arrived and he has to deliver, and then he actually does not deliver.”

Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap in Singapore has helped Max Verstappen keep his advantage over Lando Norris

The result in Singapore leaves Norris just under two race wins worth of points behind Verstappen in the drivers’ championship with six races to go.

However, with Ricciardo setting the fastest lap, Verstappen can now finish second in every remaining race, regardless of the bonus point for the fastest lap, and claim his fourth consecutive world title.

But Red Bull clearly does not have an answer to McLaren at the moment. Verstappen has only finished on the podium twice in the last seven races, while Norris has claimed four poles and two wins in that time.

With Ferrari and Mercedes showing signs of being quicker than Red Bull, the Dutchman will be under increased pressure to keep hold of his championship.