F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen's Winning Streak Threatens McLaren's Title Bid

McLaren under pressure as Verstappen's F1 wins streak continues

Max Verstappen's recent momentum, with back-to-back wins, has injected new life into the F1 title fight, putting pressure on McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to deliver strong performances at the Singapore Grand Prix.

“If we are competitive there and we don't lose too much ground, then we sort out our problem...”

McLaren is on the cusp of securing its 10th constructors' title at the Singapore Grand Prix, with a massive 333-point lead over Mercedes and 337 points over Ferrari. The team needs just 13 points to seal the championship, which would be a remarkable achievement, tying Red Bull's record of clinching the title with six races remaining in 2023. A single podium finish from either Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris would be enough to secure the title, given the 346 points available in the remaining seven races.

Max Verstappen's recent resurgence, with back-to-back wins in Italy and Azerbaijan, has added pressure on McLaren. However, Verstappen still trails Oscar Piastri by 69 points with seven races left, making it a challenging task for the Dutch driver to catch up. Despite this, Verstappen remains optimistic, stating that while it's not impossible to catch the McLarens, everything needs to go perfectly for him, and he'll take it one race at a time.

The Singapore Grand Prix promises to be an exciting contest, with McLaren looking to maintain its dominance and Verstappen aiming to continue his winning streak. McLaren's performance this season has been impressive, with 12 wins and seven one-two finishes in 17 races. If they secure the title in Singapore, it would mark a significant milestone for the team, and they're also on track to break several records, including the most points scored in a season.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are comfortably leading the driver's title race, with Piastri 69 points ahead of Max Verstappen and Norris 25 points behind Piastri. However, any missteps from the McLaren duo could allow Verstappen to close the gap. Verstappen has gained momentum with back-to-back wins in Italy and Azerbaijan, finishing second at his home race before these victories.

Despite his recent successes, Verstappen likely needs a significant collapse from McLaren, coupled with wins in all remaining races and sprints, to claim his fifth consecutive title. Historically, Red Bull has struggled in Singapore, winning only once in the past nine years, with Verstappen yet to secure a victory on this circuit. In fact, the driver who takes pole position has won 10 of the 15 previous Singapore Grand Prix events, a trend that might not favor Verstappen, who hasn't secured a pole position in Singapore.

Red Bull's recent upgrades to the RB21 have significantly boosted Max Verstappen's performance, but according to Technical Director Pierre Wache, the true test of the car's progress will come in Singapore. This challenging circuit will provide a stern examination of the team's improvements, and Wache is likely eager to see how the car handles the demanding conditions.

“We will see in Singapore where we are. That is not normally our type of track,” he said.

“If we are competitive there and we don't lose too much ground, then we sort out our problem.”

Three-Way Title Battle?

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella was emphatic that Verstappen was still a threat after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but the destiny of the title almost certainly remains in his own team's hands.

Piastri knows he needs to rediscover the consistency and coolness under pressure that helped him to seven race wins before a third place in Italy and crashes in both qualifying and the race in Baku.

“I'm not going to rule (Max) out, but I'm honestly not too concerned with that,” said the Australian, whose Baku disappointment ended a run of 34 straight races with points-scoring finishes.

“Ultimately, I want to make sure that my performances are at the level that they should be, and then I'll let the rest play out.”

Lando Norris hopes to avoid pit-stop errors in Singapore like those that hindered his performance in the last two races. Last year, Norris dominated the Singapore Grand Prix, taking the win from pole position, while his teammate Oscar Piastri finished third. Norris will aim to replicate that success and contribute to McLaren's push for the constructors' title.

George Russell, currently fourth in the standings, poses a significant threat to McLaren's constructors' title aspirations. After a strong performance in Azerbaijan, where he finished second, Russell will be looking to continue his form in Singapore. Despite a heartbreaking last-lap crash in the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, Russell has shown impressive pace on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, qualifying second behind Carlos Sainz's Ferrari.

Our 🦁 in Lion City 🌃#F1 || #SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 pic.twitter.com/Jdq5GQQAto

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 29, 2025

While Lewis Hamilton has a successful history in Singapore with four wins, his recent struggles might make Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc a more formidable opponent. Leclerc has twice taken pole position in Singapore without securing a win, which could motivate him to finally cross the finish line first. Hamilton's recent performance in Singapore has been less impressive, finishing sixth last year after starting third, while Leclerc has consistently shown strong qualifying form.

Carlos Sainz is expected to be in good form after securing a podium finish in Baku. Two years ago, Sainz achieved one of his four wins for Ferrari in Singapore, and he'll look to build on that success at the Marina Bay circuit. Despite the Williams car's potential struggles on the circuit, Sainz's recent performance could give Ferrari a boost.

Ready to go racing under the lights 🌃#McLaren | #SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 https://t.co/904DuvwCrL pic.twitter.com/ZgJX4pHCmV

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 1, 2025

The Singapore Grand Prix is known for its demanding conditions, with high temperatures and humidity testing the drivers' concentration levels. In fact, the Marina Bay circuit's unique layout and climate make it one of the most challenging tracks on the F1 calendar. Last year's race was notable for being the first in the city without a safety car, adding to the complexity of the circuit.