Lando Norris has generated intense debate among Formula 1 fans after a viral video showed the McLaren driver seemingly mocking Lance Stroll during a post-Singapore Grand Prix party night. The clip has accumulated over three million views on social media.
The video, which was posted by a fan account, shows Norris with fellow Haas driver Ollie Bearman, while someone from the audience holds up a sign that says ‘For the best driver’. At that moment, Norris exclaims ‘Where is Lance, where is Lance?’, a phrase that many fans have interpreted as a jab at Stroll.
Stroll, who has yet to score any points this season, is the first driver to accumulate 100 eliminations in the first qualifying round (Q1) in a single season, a fact that has heightened the controversy surrounding the video.
Reactions from viewers have varied. The account that spread the video criticized Norris’s attitude, pointing out that even though Stroll may not be the best driver on the grid, he deserves some respect. The post received 3.3 million views, with nearly 19,000 ‘likes’ and over 500 comments. One comment, which garnered over 5,000 ‘likes’, joked about the situation of Norris’s communications manager.
The discussion escalated to the point that the account asked its followers to calm down, emphasizing that people were displaying overly aggressive behavior.
Both Norris and Stroll have not commented on the video. However, Norris found himself in a complicated situation over the weekend, as during the sprint race on Saturday, he collided with his teammate, Oscar Piastri, while battling for a position in the top four. Piastri had to retire, while Norris finished eighth, earning a point for McLaren amid Red Bull’s threat to third place in the Constructors’ Championship.
After the race, Norris admitted that he made a mistake and apologized to his team, stating: ‘I let the team down, and I have to learn from this’.
Currently, Norris is sixth in the standings with 201 points, and McLaren is preparing for the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin, set to take place from October 23 to 25.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
