Verstappen stands by Singapore qualifying frustration – Max Verstappen has reiterated his stance on Lando Norris following the controversial incident during the Singapore Grand Prix. During qualifying at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, the McLaren driver reportedly disrupted the Red Bull Racing driver’s final flying lap in Q3, a move that the four-time world champion insists impacted his chances of securing pole position.

In his end-of-year interview with Viaplay, Verstappen reflected on the event and reiterated that he still feels the incident was significant.

“Yes, one hundred per cent. That clearly bothered me,” said the Dutchman. “With these cars, that has become an increasingly big problem, but ultimately, that’s how it is. Otherwise, I would have been close to pole position.”

He added a dose of perspective, acknowledging that such situations are part of racing.

“Anyway, it happens to everyone at some point, and I’ve got my own back at other times. So it all balances out,” he said, demonstrating his usual blend of determination and pragmatism.

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Singapore: A Missed Opportunity

Despite his strong season, Verstappen has yet to secure a victory at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. After finishing behind Mercedes’ George Russell in Singapore, he now approaches the challenge with a more relaxed mindset.

“It would be nice, but if I don’t win here in my career, then so be it,” he said. “Then I’ll just go there on holiday. That’s nice too,” he added, smiling.

This relaxed attitude prompted a playful moment with Viaplay analyst Mike Hezemans, who teased the Dutchman.

“Look, Lily, Daddy has never won here,” he joked, a comment that drew laughter from everyone at the table. Verstappen took it in his stride, showing that even champions can enjoy a bit of humour at their own expense.

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A Mid-Season Resurgence

Verstappen’s season was far from over after the Singapore setback. By the midpoint of the season, few expected him to remain in the world championship hunt. Yet, following the summer break, the 28-year-old driver and Red Bull Racing orchestrated a remarkable comeback.

Of the ten Grands Prix held in the second half of the season, Verstappen won six, outpacing the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won two and one races respectively. Although George Russell managed to stay ahead in Singapore while leading Mercedes, Verstappen’s consistent pace and resilience marked the turning point of the championship race.

This dominant streak highlights the driver’s ability to adapt and overcome adversity. Despite his disappointment in Singapore, Verstappen proved that he is a formidable competitor who can bounce back stronger than ever.

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Celebrating 2025’s High Points

Even without a victory in Singapore, Verstappen finished the season as the most successful driver in terms of wins. Out of the season’s total races, he triumphed eight times, surpassing both McLaren drivers, who achieved seven victories between them. Each win had its own story, but one stood out for Verstappen himself:

“The one in Japan, for Honda, was really great!” he recalled with a smile. “It couldn’t have been better.”

He also identified Monza as a defining moment. ‘The podium there was a bit of a turning point for us. A positive story started to emerge within the team, which was great, and it was also nice to see the fans being a bit more positive.”

READ MORE: F1 Global Boom Explained: Why F1 Is Attracting More Fans Than Ever in 2025

 

 

NEXT ARTICLE: Alonso teases with a vision of his third F1 championship

Fernando Alonso is revered as one of the best drivers to grace Formula One in the past two decades. His two championships with Renault in 2005/6 ended the longest period of Ferrari domination in the sport’s history.

The Spaniard’s decision to join McLaren in 2007 was an inspired reading of the F1 form tea leaves, although internal fighting within the woking based team saw both their drivers lose out to Kimi Raikkonen that season by a single point.

Such was the bitterness created at the Woking based team that season, Fernando decided to leave the team in 2008, only for his former team mate Lewis Hamilton to claim his first drivers’ championship with an overtake on the last lap of the last race in Brazil.

 

Alonso’s lost F1 championships

Alonso was offered the dream move to Ferrari in 2010, where he almost won the title but for more Ferrari strategy blunders at the final round in Abu Dhabi. He started the weekend 15 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel, but a poorly times early pitstop to cover off Mark Webber’s early change of rubber saw him stuck behind Vitaly Petrov for the remainder of the Grand Prix.

Vettel won the race and the first of four championships, whilst Ferrari and Alonso were left to rue what m ight have been. Ferrari president, Luca Di Montezemolo later reflected on Alonso’s time at Ferrari, stating “What I appreciated about Fernando is he was always a fighter, a fighter, a fighter. From mid-2010 to 2014, Fernando was the best driver in the world. There’s no argument about that.”

But the championship defeats were very difficult to take for both Ferrari and the Spanish driver. In 2012 it was even more galling as in a car widely regarded as no better than third quickest, Alonso led the championship for much of the season.

The title that season hinged on two pieces of ill fortune for Fernando when he was taken out at the start of both the Belgian and Japanese Grands Prix. In Spa it was by the airborne Lotus of Romain Grosjean after the French driver had been run close to the wall by Lewis Hamilton. At Suzuka, it was Kimi Raikkonen who dashed the Spanish matador’s hopes when his front wing punctured the rear left tyre of…READ MORE ON THIS STORY