Despite recent strong results for Red Bull, Max Verstappen does not want to rely on hope in the World Championship battle – Singapore is the ultimate test
With two consecutive victories, Max Verstappen has made headlines again – and is back in the World Championship battle, at least mathematically. After his dominant performance in Monza and his commanding victory in Baku, the Dutchman has reduced the gap to leader Oscar Piastri to 69 points. There are still seven race weekends to go in 2025.
While Red Bull has recently shown a significant improvement in form, McLaren had a sobering weekend in Azerbaijan. Team boss Andrea Stella even stated afterwards that Verstappen remains a serious contender for Piastri and Norris in the title race. But the world champion himself is not interested in speculation.
“I don’t rely on hope,” Verstappen emphasizes. “There are still seven races to go, but a 69-point deficit is a lot. Personally, I don’t think about it much. I just take it race by race, as I have done all season. Our goal is to get the most out of it and take as many points as possible. After Abu Dhabi, we’ll see where we stand.”
Red Bull’s renaissance on low-downforce tracks
Particularly noteworthy: Red Bull was able to prevail on tracks that had caused the team headaches in previous years. Monza is not traditionally considered a Red Bull stronghold, which made Verstappen’s dominance in Italy all the more impressive. The team has also often struggled in Baku in the past, but this time Verstappen took pole position in difficult conditions and didn’t put a foot wrong in the race.
“Monza has never been a particularly strong track for us, so winning there was a big plus,” explains Verstappen. “Baku was okay, but rarely outstanding – maybe in 2021 or 2022. That made it all the more important to have such a strong weekend now.”
Looking ahead to Singapore: Red Bull’s next test
The double victory has given Red Bull momentum, but the next hurdle is already waiting: in two weeks, the team will head to Singapore. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is considered one of the most demanding courses on the calendar—technical, uneven, and characterized by tight corners. Last year, the track was a real Achilles’ heel for Red Bull, while McLaren dominated there.
“Singapore is a completely different challenge with a high level of downforce. We’ll have to wait and see what we can achieve there,” said Verstappen. “It’s hard to say at the moment, but the last two weekends have been fantastic for us.”
It remains to be seen whether Verstappen’s recent winning streak actually marks the beginning of a late title chase – or whether McLaren will regain the upper hand on its favorite tracks. One thing is certain: Red Bull’s comeback has significantly increased the excitement of the World Championship.