05/10/2025
NEWS STORY
While not wishing to do a Murray Walker and tempt fate, one has to look ahead to today's Grand Prix and ask, can he do it?
Not George, not Lando not Oscar, but Max.
As much as we try to be unbiased, the fact is that a two-horse race becoming a three-horse race is an exciting prospect, especially when one of those horses is the Dutchman.
As has become the norm for much of the past two years, Max is alone in taking on the McLaren and Mercedes duos, though at least in terms of the Papaya pair both have an individual point to prove.
A good start is vital, and we know the Dutchman is good at getaways.
However, even if he leads the pack into Turn 1 and beyond the deal is far from done for as we know from experience - this weekend alone - stoppages and Safety Cars are almost inevitable.
Nonetheless, a strong start would lay a good marker for the Dutchman as those behind sort themselves out.
It's been something of a disjointed weekend thus far - admit it, who expected George to be on pole - and consequently it is hard to pick a true pecking order. However, the McLarens have not really impressed this weekend, unlike the Mercedes.
The Ferraris are up there but inconsistent, while Isack, Oliver and Fernando can merely watch on in the hopes of taking advantage.
Pirelli is anticipating a one-stop race, although the increase in pit-lane speed, from 60 to 80 km/h, makes a two-stop slightly more appealing, especially if there is a Safety Car or the opening of a clean-air window.
All three compounds could be used and while everyone has one set of mediums and one of hards, the softs could also play a role, either at the start or at the end of the race. The greater grip offered by the C5 could be exploited at the start to gain vital positions on a track where overtaking is always difficult, although now less so than in the past.
Those starting on mediums would likely pit around Lap 26 - 32, those on the hards between Laps 32 and 38. Those starting on soft would pit around Lap 13 - 19, while the two-stoppers would pit around Lap 13 to 19 and then again between Laps 34 and 40.
As previously reported, both Williams were disqualified from qualifying over a rear wing infringement and were set to start from the back of the grid, with Carlos starting 19th and Alex 20th. However, overnight work on Alex's car means he will start from the pitlane, as will poor Pierre, both having had changes made to the suspension set-ups of their cars.
As if there wasn't enough excitement, about an hour before the start it begins to rain. It stops shortly after but there is the prospect of more.
The pitlane opens and the drivers head out, there remain a few damp patches and consequently there is some spray.
"Wets or slicks," Verstappen is asked, the Dutchman having a major wobble at he's about to answer.
As if things weren't bad enough for him, Albon has been noted for a practice start infringement.
Air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. Humidity is 74%.
As Bearman suggests that Inters might be best at the start, Fred Vasseur confirms that it is particularly wet in Turns 2 and 3. Albon also says that it is very wet in Turn 3.
Race Control claims there is a 30% chance of further rain.
Ahead of the start work in going on at the front of both Mercedes.
Most are starting on mediums bar Verstappen, Hadjar, Alonso, Tsunoda, Stroll and Colapinto who are on softs and Albon who is on hards. Verstappen, Hadjar and Alonso are on used rubber.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away cleanly, Russell leading the pack.
A number of drivers lock-up at Turn 13.
The grid forms, albeit very, very slowly.
They're away! A great start from Russell while Verstappen is somewhat tardy off the line allowing Piastri to get alongside on the run to Turn 1.
Howev er, the Dutchman has the line and behind him Piastri has problems of his own as Norris closes in.
Through Turn 2 the Papaya pair appear to touch, Norris forcing his teammate wide and almost into the barrier in Turn 3.
Behind, Leclerc makes up positions passing Hamilton and Antonelli into Turn 1, while Hadjar Hadjar passes Alonso.
"I had contact," says Norris. Not with Piastri but with the rear of Verstappen's car according to the replay.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Russell, Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Antonelli. Hamilton, Hadjar, Alonso and Bearman.
Norris does indeed have damage to his front wing, while Piastri complains: "That wasn't very team like."
Hadjar and Bearman have been noted for causing a collision, the pair touching amidst the mayhem that was the opening couple of corners.
"Are we cool with Lando barging me out of the way?" asks Piastri. "A small amount of front wing damage, nothing to worry about," Norris is told.
Norris and Piastri have also been noted for causing a collision.
2s clear of Verstappen, Russell posts a new fastest lap (38.035).
No further action on either of those incidents, but McLaren is carrying out its own review.
Alonso reclaims eighth from Hadjar.
Another fastest lap from Russell on Lap 4 as he builds a 2.6s lead.
Piastri is told that Norris was avoiding Verstappen. "That's not fair," insists the Australian. "If he was to avoid another car by crashing into his teammate..." he adds.
After 8 laps Russell is 4.1s clear of Verstappen who is just 1.8s ahead of Norris, with Piastri a further 2.9s behind.
Antonelli is all over Leclerc as they battle for fifth, while Ocon reports a brake issue.
"It's really ****," replies Verstappen when asked about his downshifts.
Norris is lapping around 0.3s faster than his teammate as Russell posts another fastest lap (36.485).
Bortoleto and Tsunoda both pit at the end of Lap 13, the Sauber with a front wing endplate that looks ready to fall off following contact at the start.
After 14 laps Russell enjoys a 7.8s lead as Colapinto pits in order to shed his softs.
TV reveals that Antonelli's steering wheel is clearly biased to the right.
Norris is told to think about the undercut on Verstappen.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Marina Bay here.
In the McLaren garage the crew is clearly awaiting the arrival of Norris... or are they?
"Stay out!" the Briton is told as teammate Piastri drops 4.9s behind.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 19, rejoining in 7th, ahead of Alonso, on hards.
"Let's get on with it," the Dutchman is told as he goes quickest in S2 and again in S3.
Hadjar pits at the end of Lap 20. He rejoins alongside Colapinto but soon get ahead.
Next time around it is Leclerc who stops, the Ferrari driver rejoining in tenth, behind Hulkenberg. The Monegasque makes short work of the Sauber.
Told he is free to push, Verstappen, who is currently sixth, insists that everything is working against him.
Despite which he posts a new fastest lap (36.330).
Though he is enjoying a 9.1s lead, Russell is warned that Norris is lapping faster.
Bearman pits at the end of Lap 23.
Verstappen posts another fastest lap (36.084) as he closes on Hamilton, who subsequently pits, rejoining in ninth.
Both Mercedes pit at the end of Lap 25, as Norris is asked if he will allow Piastri to pit first.
"Yes," he replies, before saying: "No!".
The Briton subsequently pits, promoting his teammate into the lead, 8.7s ahead of Russell. Norris rejoins in fourth, 5s down on Verstappen.
Hadjar is warned that he has an engine issue costing three to four-tenths a lap.
Piastri pits at the end of Lap 27, however there's an issue with the left-rear. He rejoins in fourth, 3.1s ahead of Leclerc, as Alonso pits. The Spaniard has a similarly slow stop dropping him to 15th.
Bearman makes a bold move on Albon for 12th.
"34 to go," Alonso is told. "If you speak to me every lap I will disconnect the radio," he replies.
Russell is lapping around 0.2s slower than Verstappen and the McLarens, his lead down to 3s.
Lawson, Stroll, Sainz and Albon have yet to stop, the Canadian still on the softs with which he started.
"Have a drink," Norris is told.
"Man, it's so ******* hard to drive," says Verstappen as he almost heads down the escape road, giving Russell some much needed breathing space.
Hadjar and Alonso having a great battle for 13th, the Spaniard having to draw deep on his vast experience.
"Trophy for the hero of the race," laughs the Spaniard as he finally loses the RB.
Up ahead teammate Stroll is holding up Sainz, Bearman and Albon in a bid to assist Alonso.
Verstappen continues to struggle with a car that doesn't appear to want to stop. The Dutchman has successive lap times deleted.
Stroll finally pits at the end of Lap 38.
"The rear is like a handbrake, please help," asks Verstappen.
"Struggling in dirty air," says Norris, only to be told that Verstappen is struggling in clean air.
Stroll is shown successive blue flags as Russell closes in.
A big lock-up from Albon saves Alonso the need to battle the Williams driver.
Having been passed by Tsunoda, Colapinto is under pressure from Hulkenberg, Bortoleto, Gasly and Ocon as Russell closes in.
"We think we should take the Safety Car for a soft," Piastri is told. "I don't know what to think," replies a seemingly weary Piastri.
As Russell loses time to the battle ahead, Norris has a major wobble.
Hulkenberg spins at Turn 7, bringing out the yellows.
"Blue flags! Get out of the way," urges Russell.
Be it a downshift issue, tyres or backmarkers, Verstappen is losing ground to Norris.
He is 4.2s down on Russell and just 0.7s ahead of Norris.
Hamilton makes his second stop at the end of Lap 46, rejoining in 7th on softs.
Piastri is warned of the traffic ahead. "It's like starting in the middle of the pack," he is told.
Lap 48 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (33.808).
For once Piastri is clearly rattled. "There's a lot of opportunity," he is assured.
Lawson finally pits at the end of Lap 49, leaving Sainz as the only driver yet to stop.
At the end of Lap 51, Sainz pits.
Though 5.6s down on his teammate, Piastri ups his pace.
As Antonelli closes on Leclerc, Hamilton is just 7.7s behind the pair of them, on softs.
Verstappen alms the door firmly on an eager Norris as Piastri is now just 3.1s behind.
Told the Bortoleto is on 40 laps old hards, Stroll replies that his mediums are like a hundred laps old.
Antonelli passes Leclerc for fifth, as Stroll passes Bortoleto on those hundred-lap old tyres.
Hadjar is told to "be clear on Max and Norris", the Frenchman most likely the Dutchman's teammate next season.
Leclerc allows his Ferrari teammate to pass and take the fight to Antonelli.
Hadjar moves aside for both Verstappen and Norris.
As Norris continues to shadow Verstappen, Hamilton is 1.1s down on Antonelli.
Having passed Antonelli, a mistake by Hamilton at Turn 16 allows the youngster to retake the position.
Sainz passes Hajar for tenth, just rewards for Williams after a tough weekend.
Struggling with a brake issue, Hamilton yields to his Ferrari teammate. As he begins the final lap the seven-time world champion has a 26s advantage over Alonso.
Russell takes the flag, ahead of Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Antonelli and Leclerc as Hamilton claims seventh, just 0.416s ahead of Alonso. Bearman is ninth and Sainz tenth.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Marina Bay here.
Hadjar is eleventh, ahead of Tsunoda, Stroll, Albon., Lawson, Colapinto, Bortoleto, Ocon, Gasly and Hulkenberg.
That said, Hamilton's seventh place could yet be lost as he was shown the black and white for track limits violations.
While we can expect some harsh words from Piastri, the fact is that McLaren has secured the constructor's title, the first back-to-back since 1991, and then Woking outfit's tenth, thereby surpassing Williams to become the most successful British constructor.
"I could go again," says Norris. "It was a tough race, Max didn't make any mistakes but I gave it my all today.
"I'm happy," he adds, "I got forward two positions and we won as a team the constructors' again so I'm happy.
"It was slippery," he says of the start, "so wet in lots of places. It is racing, I put it on the inside, had a little correction and yeah, that's it."
The track only just got dry," adds Verstappen, "so we opted to try something different. It didn't work out.
"The whole race was quite difficult for a few different reasons so we need to understand what went wrong today. For us, second was the maximum result."
"It feels amazing," grins Russell, " especially after what happened a couple of years ago.
"I'm so grateful to the team who did an amazing job all weekend.
"So happy. I was a bit nervous at the beginning when I saw Max on the soft!"
Not the thriller we were hoping for, indeed much of it was pretty processional, due to the usual reasons.
While McLaren has sewn up the team title the drivers' title is still up for grabs, with Max still very much in the picture.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the first corner, Piastri is clearly miffed and Andrea Stella and his team will need to work to calm the situation.
However, as the fight counts down to Abu Dhabi the odds will increase and so too the needle between the Papaya pair, and Verstappen will be there to take full advantage.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Marina Bay here.