Martin Brundle explains angry Max Verstappen radio message during Singapore Grand Prix

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It was an impressive turnaround for Max Verstappen at the Singapore Grand Prix after he finished 20 seconds behind title rival Lando Norris.

Red Bull was clearly off the pace all weekend but Verstappen capitalised on a front-row start to stay ahead of Lewis Hamilton into the first corner, then managed his pace throughout the Grand Prix.

Having built up a gap to Hamilton, Max Verstappen was unable to do anything about Norris who cruised into the lead by over 20 seconds before their first pit stop.

The Dutchman appeared to be angry at his Red Bull team when they eventually pitted him on Lap 29, when he emerged behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. He came over team radio to exclaim: “I just don’t get it why we let him undercut us by so far. It’s just so stupid.”

While commentating on the race for Sky Sports, former driver Martin Brundle explained why Verstappen was angry given the pace of Norris ahead of him.

Max Verstappen not told that Charles Leclerc was on different strategy

Leclerc was on a different pit strategy to Verstappen and had not yet to come in, meaning he was always going to emerge behind the Ferrari driver.

Although engineer Gianpiero Lambiase informed Verstappen that he was racing Leclerc “who had yet to stop” when exiting the pit lane, the Dutchman still thought he had lost out on track position.

“I think what Max doesn’t realise is that he’s not really been undercut, the Ferrari is a pitstop behind him. He thinks he’s lost race position but he hasn’t in reality,” said Brundle.

Verstappen would go on to finish the race in second and 20 seconds off Norris, who took more points out of his championship lead.

Max Verstappen helped by Daniel Ricciardo at the end of Singapore GP

The points deficit between Verstappen and Norris is now just 52 points after the Singapore GP, although it could have been slightly smaller had it not been a final fastest-lap attempt from Daniel Ricciardo.

The Australian driver pitted in the closing stages of the race for a set of soft tyres and took away Norris’ bonus point for the fastest lap when he set his own on the final tour.

It means Verstappen can now win the title if he finishes in second place at every race that Norris wins in the final six Grands Prix, regardless of if the McLaren driver achieves the fastest lap point.

It will no doubt play an important role in the Dutchman’s title defence, as Red Bull are on precarious ground with the problems they face with the RB20.