Max Verstappen has put Red Bull on notice, urging the team to rally and turn the tables on McLaren after Lando Norris secured a commanding victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. With McLaren gaining ground in the championship battle, Verstappen is feeling the heat as his once-dominant Red Bull squad struggles to keep pace.
Norris’ win in Marina Bay marked his third triumph of the season, pushing McLaren further ahead in the standings and reducing Verstappen’s championship lead to 52 points. The Dutch driver, who finished second behind Norris, acknowledged that Red Bull’s recent form was not enough and stressed the need for immediate improvement to avoid being consistently outperformed by McLaren.
“We just need to keep on trying, and overturn it – not always finishing behind,” Verstappen stated, reflecting on the eight-race winless streak that has seen his title defense grow increasingly precarious. “I’m looking forward to a bit of rest.”
Starting from the front row behind Norris, Verstappen held onto second place for much of the race but briefly lost ground to Charles Leclerc during the pit stop phase. Despite the setback, Verstappen managed to reclaim his position, admitting that a second-place finish was a respectable outcome given Red Bull’s known struggles on the Singapore circuit.
“We knew it was going to be a tough weekend,” Verstappen noted. “P2 is a good achievement, but we need to improve, and that’s what we’ll do.”
Verstappen’s comments underscore the urgency within Red Bull to regain their footing as the season heads into its final stretch. With McLaren riding high and Norris showing no signs of slowing down, the battle for the championship is far from over. Verstappen remains focused, determined to bounce back and extend his title lead as the rivalry between Red Bull and McLaren intensifies on the road to the season finale.
