When Formula 1 returns to the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore next weekend for the first time since 2019, Max Verstappen might possibly crown himself for the second time. On October 2, two days following his 25th birthday on Friday, the Dutchman has to score 22 points more than Charles Leclerc and 13 more than his own Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez.
“There’s no need to rush,” he said, but hesitantly at first. “I’m not really thinking regarding the championship, I just want to have a positive weekend on the track and take it race by race,” said the child. “We haven’t been to Singapore for a while, so it will be interesting to see how the track has developed,” says Verstappen, looking ahead to the floodlit night race.
Last Singapore winner: Sebastian Vettel
In 2020 and 2021 the Grand Prix was canceled due to the corona pandemic. In 2019 Sebastian Vettel had won with Ferrari. Verstappen leads the championship standings by 116 points over Ferrari figurehead Leclerc, with Mexican Perez 125 points behind him. 16 of 22 races have already been completed – almost three quarters of the season. So that Verstappen can already successfully complete the title defense mission, Leclerc should not be better than eighth in a Verstappen victory including the fastest lap. Without the additional point, from Verstappen’s point of view, Monegasse can only come in ninth place.
So the probability of a title celebration following the race on Sunday is not too great. On the other hand, Ferrari has already made one or two big bucks this season. “The biggest helper of Max and Red Bull Racing this season was Ferrari,” summed up Sky expert Ralf Schumacher. “You stand in your own way,” says Gerhard Berger regarding the Scuderia. The Italians had “at the beginning of the season a car that was superior to ours,” as Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko explained. In fact, Leclerc won two of the first three races, while Verstappen retired twice.
Verstappen on record course
However, the tide turned quickly and the defending champion set the tone. The former “child prodigy” won 12 races this year, the last five in a row. Overall, Verstappen holds 31 victories at just 25 years of age – a record at that age, just like his 157 Grand Prix starts. The German Vettel actually already had two World Cup trophies in his pocket at the same age, but by the time he was 25 he had “only” managed to win 22 days. Seven-time world champions Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher had 11 and two wins, respectively, from far fewer starts.
What is still possible for Verstappen, should he want to drive in Formula 1 for as long as Vettel, Hamilton or Fernando Alonso, must therefore appear almost frightening for the upcoming competition. More titles and triumphs are probably just a matter of time.