Max Verstappen believes that his title chances for 2025 have been significantly reduced by his failure to win in Singapore – the Red Bull driver explains what went wrong there.
Ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin, Max Verstappen has admitted that his chances of winning a fifth Formula 1 world title in 2025 were likely already damaged in Singapore. In his own estimation, Red Bull should have won there in order to put McLaren under serious pressure in the title race. He now puts his chances of winning the world title at only 50:50.
“We really should have won in Singapore,” said Verstappen in Austin. “We’re just not picking up enough points. That was the moment we missed our chance for a really exciting duel.”
Mathematically speaking, the Dutchman is still within reach: with six races to go, he is 63 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. But Verstappen sees the reality soberly. To make up the deficit, he would have to make up an average of more than ten points per weekend – most recently, he only made up six points in Singapore with second place.
“Of course, it was positive that we were ahead of both McLarens there, even though the track doesn’t really suit our car,” says the 28-year-old. “But in the end, it just wasn’t enough.” When asked whether the victory would have been decisive, he answers clearly: “Yes, one hundred percent.”
Red Bull was too conservative
Verstappen does not deny that more could have been achieved in Singapore. After the race, he had already hinted that Red Bull had not made the most of the weekend – an assessment he now confirms. The decisive factor was a setup change before qualifying, which did not have the desired effect but could not be reversed for the race.
“We were just a little too conservative,” he says. “In hindsight, it would have been better to stick with the original setup. But these decisions are made as a team – and at the time, it seemed like the right choice.”
The start also contributed to Verstappen not getting further ahead. Shortly before the start of the race, a rain shower had left the track partially wet, which is why Red Bull opted for soft tires and a “low grip” setting. But by the time the race started, the asphalt was already dry again.
However, Verstappen does not believe this was a misjudgment: “There was around eight percent less grip on the inside, and I immediately lost a car length,” explains Verstappen. “That’s why we started with this setup. Otherwise, I would have had too much wheel spin.”
Looking ahead to Austin – but without any illusions
Verstappen expects a different balance of power in Austin. After recent improved performances in Monza, Baku, and Singapore, Red Bull seems to have a better understanding of the RB21. Nevertheless, the world champion warns: “There is no guarantee that we will be competitive everywhere.”
The medium-speed corners of the Circuit of The Americas are considered a problem area – according to Verstappen, McLaren has been particularly strong there recently. “It was a little better in Singapore, but we’re still lacking something in these corners. We need to keep working on that.”
On the positive side, Red Bull has now developed a much better understanding of the car, which could help during the sprint weekend in Texas. “We now know pretty much exactly what the car needs,” says Verstappen. “It’s more about getting the most out of a weekend. That’s the key if we want to take points off McLaren.”
Despite all the setbacks, Verstappen does not want to write off the world championship battle prematurely – but his words sound more realistic than ever. “We’ll try,” he says. “If you say, ‘Forget it,’ then I might as well stay at home. But honestly, a win in Singapore could have changed everything.”
