Max Verstappen Promises Red Bull Comeback Amid McLaren’s Singapore Surge

Max Verstappen has stated that “the fight is not over” as Red Bull heads to Singapore this week. This comes after Red Bull lost its top position in the constructors’ championship for the first time in two and a half years. McLaren has surged ahead, now leading by 20 points following Oscar Piastri’s impressive win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Sergio Perez’s late collision with Carlos Sainz, which resulted in both cars hitting the wall, only added to Red Bull’s challenges. Meanwhile, Lando Norris from McLaren climbed from 15th to fourth place, putting pressure on Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.

Max Verstappen’s lead has shrunk to 59 points with seven races and three sprints remaining, leaving a total of 207 points still available. Although Verstappen won seven out of the first ten races this season, he has not secured a victory in the last seven as McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes have all claimed race wins. Red Bull’s advisor, Helmut Marko, expressed doubts about retaining the constructors’ championship, but Verstappen remains determined. After finishing fifth in Baku, he emphasized, “We are going to work together as a team, and the fight is not over. You win or lose as a team, and we won’t give up. It is as simple as that.”

Max Verstappen: Red Bull’s Challenges Ahead

Historically, Verstappen has faced difficulties at the unpredictable Marina Bay Circuit. Last year, it was the only race Red Bull did not win, with Carlos Sainz of Ferrari taking the victory, preventing Max Verstappen from achieving an 11th consecutive win. Verstappen has never triumphed on the tight, city-center street circuit, where tropical storms, high humidity, and safety cars add to the unpredictability. Although Perez did win in Singapore in 2022, it remains Red Bull’s only victory there since Sebastian Vettel in 2013.

After a strong start to the season, Red Bull is now on the defensive. Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged, “We have lost out on some significant points in the championship. However, we will brush ourselves down and fight back hard.” In contrast, McLaren is in high spirits as they aim for their first team world title since 1998. Team principal Andrea Stella noted, “First in the constructors’ championship is an important milestone in our journey. However, the team remains clearly focused on the task ahead. We quickly turn our attention to Singapore.”

The high downforce track in Singapore has traditionally favored Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton, reflecting on his ninth-place finish in Baku, said, “We’ve also got lots of data to work through ahead of Singapore. We’ve got some upgrades coming before the end of the year, so hopefully, we can make a step closer to those at the front soon.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won at Monza but struggled to convert his pole position at Baku into a victory. Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur expressed frustration, saying, “For sure we have a bit of frustration because we had the space and pace to win this weekend.” Leclerc managed to secure second place after struggling with tire degradation late in the race and witnessed Sainz’s late crash. “It wasn’t the best day for our team,” Leclerc admitted, noting that he is still only 19 points behind Norris in the drivers’ title race. “But we now head to Singapore and will come back stronger.”

Also Read: Oscar Piastri Announces Arrival With Azerbaijan Grand Prix Win, Spells Magic For McLaren