McLaren will be hoping to get back on track in Singapore this weekend after a rather calamitous Azerbaijan race, from which Lando Norris could only muster seventh place and championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed out on the first lap after a nightmare in qualifying.
Neither driver looked like a champion-in-waiting in Baku and Piastri, who had been as cool as a cucumber up until a fortnight ago, seemed to completely lose the plot. Was it a rare stumble, or has the pressure finally got to the previously unflappable Aussie?
Norris won the Marina Bay race last year from pole, while Piastri fought his way up to third. The meat in the McLaren sandwich was Max Verstappen, and the way he’s fought back in the last three rounds with two poles, two victories and a second place, means that he’s the man on the move right now.
The Dutchman is currently 69 points off Piastri and there are still 199 points up for grabs, so despite Red Bull’s dreadfully lacklustre first half of the season, part two is coming up roses.
McLaren are imminently expected to clinch the constructors’ title again, given they’re 333 points in the lead, but only 18 points separate Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. So the competition is red hot going into Singapore’s sweltering night.
Norris told yesterday’s press conference Verstappen is now ‘genuinely a challenger’ for the title, but was in more flippant mood when asked if he was worried that might mean McLaren would have to prioritise one driver.
‘I’m very concerned. Yeah. Very worried about it, and scared, frankly. So yeah, I was happy you asked that, actually…. Yeah… No,’ he responded dryly.
Max took his fourth grand-prix win of the season in Baku, but he’s visited the top step of the podium since then. He won the Nurburgring 24 Hours in a Ferrari 296 GT3 on his weekend off. Who would have put money on Max winning in a Ferrari before Lewis Hamilton?
While some drivers like to relax on their yachts, or by walking red carpets and fashion runways, Verstappen just wants to race and the longer it is the better. The man is a machine, and such is his authority at Red Bull he’s allowed to take the wheel of whatever he fancies.
This has earned some envy from his rivals. ‘It’s incredible, to be honest,’ says George Russell of the four-time champ’s latest achievement.
‘I think we’re all pretty jealous of it, because having this freedom of firstly doing what you love in Formula One, but then also being able to go out and race other things and just enjoy at your leisure… I guess you have the right to do that when you win four world championships, and we’re all here fighting to win our first.’
Russell will also be hoping for a strong result this weekend, having finished second in Baku. It was Mercedes’ strongest showing since Canada. George will be especially keen to make up for 2023 when he threw away his chance of a Singapore podium on the last lap.
This year he’s looking less error prone and hungrier than ever to win, it having been seven races since his last taste of victory champagne.
His team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli is feeling much perkier after his fourth- place finish last time out, and says momentum is on Mercedes’ side.
‘It kind of switched the trend. I really needed a good result. Now the goal is to do these results consistently and try to perform even better,’ he said.
Lewis expresses his gratitude
Lewis Hamilton has thanked colleagues for the support from the paddock following the death of his beloved bulldog Roscoe.
George Russell messaged the Briton to say: ‘I’m so sorry for your loss, mate,’ while Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc simply sent a heart emoji. ‘We are all thinking of you, Lewis,’ posted Esteban Ocon.
‘We will miss you Roscoe, RIP.’ Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, Sauber, Williams and Alpine, as well as F1 and the FIA, also published their condolences.
Roscoe, who was 12, was a fan favourite and had his own paddock pass, as well as 1.5 million followers on Instagram.
Lewis said he appreciates all the well-wishes. ‘[It’s been] quite overwhelming, to be honest, to see how many people Roscoe touched around the world,’ he said.
‘He was the most important thing in my life, so [losing him] was a very difficult experience. I know so many people have gone through it and know what it’s like to have a pet that gives you such amazing love.’