After three tightly packed weekends from Spa-Francorchamps via Zandvoort to Monza, the World Championship fight on the Marina Bay Street Circuit in the urban canyons of Singapore is really picking up speed again. And he could also be decided right away, because Verstappen is 116 points ahead of his closest pursuer Charles Leclerc in the Singapore Grand Prix. If the Red Bull star leaves the city-state with a lead of 138 points over his Monegasque Ferrari competitor, he is once again the world champion.
After that there are still five race weekends in which a maximum of 138 points can still be scored – 25 each for the race win, one each for the fastest lap and another eight for the winner of the preceding sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Because Verstappen is uncatchable in terms of the number of wins, he would also be world champion if the points were equal at the end of the season. The Dutchman won eleven out of 16 races this year – including the youngest five en suite.
Verstappen with first title chance
The upcoming Grand Prix in Singapore could bring the driver’s world championship decision in Formula 1 in favor of Max Verstappen. Helmut Marko, head of motorsport at Red Bull, analyzes why this can happen so early.
How Verstappen already becomes world champion
So that the champagne corks can pop in the box three days after his birthday in Singapore, a lot has to come together for Verstappen. In any case, the Dutchman must celebrate his sixth win in a row. If Verstappen also gets the additional point for the fastest lap of the race, Leclerc can only finish eighth and his Mexican Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez can only finish fourth. If Verstappen wins without an additional point, Leclerc can only finish ninth. Perez, on the other hand, is only allowed to finish fourth – and that without the fastest race lap.
The fact that Max Verstappen’s second world title in a row is more or less ready for the Singapore Grand Prix at the weekend is not exactly surprising, at least for Gerhard Berger. “Red Bull has an excellent package: they have the fastest driver, the best technical package and they are used to fighting for world championships,” the racing legend explained in an APA interview. In addition, the team is also in the best position in terms of management structure to be able to tackle all the challenges in today’s Formula 1.
Defending champion not under stress
If none of the constellations apply in Singapore, Verstappen has the next chance to close the sack a week later at the comeback of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. In any case, the defending champion has no stress. “I also need a bit of luck for that,” said Verstappen with regard to the constellations, “I’m not really thinking about the championship, I just want to have a positive weekend on the track and tackle it race by race. There is no need to rush.”
Speaking of comebacks: Singapore has also not been on the racing calendar for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We haven’t been to Singapore for a while, so it will be interesting to see how the track has developed,” said Verstappen, looking ahead to the floodlit night race. Sebastian Vettel won the last event in 2019. At that time the German was in a Ferrari. At least a small good omen for the “Scuderia” that the World Cup decision could be postponed by at least one race.
