Verstappen Finishes Second Singapore GP, Doubts Fifth F1 Title

Max Verstappen finished second at the Singapore Grand Prix, maintaining his pursuit of a fifth consecutive Formula 1 drivers' title, though he acknowledged the challenge remains significant. Despite not winning the race, Verstappen outperformed both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, which Red Bull sees as a positive sign of their car's improved performance across various tracks, including historically difficult circuits like Singapore. Verstappen faced technical difficulties during the race, including issues with downshifting and car balance, yet managed to hold his position against Norris, who had a faster car. McLaren anticipates better performance on upcoming circuits that suit their car, while Red Bull's team advisor Helmut Marko noted the team's resurgence and competitiveness. Verstappen admitted that overtaking was difficult and that the championship is still an uphill battle, emphasizing that winning races and dominating are essential to closing the gap with Piastri, who leads the standings. Overall, Verstappen's result in Singapore kept his faint title hopes alive, but he remains realistic about the difficulty of catching up with the championship leader.