2025 Race 18 - Singapore

[F1nKS]

McLaren can lock up the constructors.

Singapore likely ends the discussion of Verstappen being in the championship battle. If he is still in the mix after this race, then something went horribly wrong for McLaren.


“Yeah, I mean, the two last races have been low downforce, low deg,”

“I think here it’s a lot harder on the tyres, high downforce, I’m not so sure that our car is the best at the high downforce setting. I think it’s always a bit better when you go to lower downforce. It just seems more efficient.

[airshifter]

McLaren are looking solid, but Lando seems a bit lacking compared to Oscar. We can never count Max out, but overall I think it's a done deal. Max will keep fighting and might get some luck here and there, but I don't think he has a lot of chances at winning races. Podiums maybe.... behind McLaren.

This has never been a track I really like all that much. Not that it's a terrible track really, it just seems to lack character that makes it interesting.

[airshifter]

This was another one I didn't see coming. I tried to convince myself that the pace of Max and RB through practice might be a fluke, but as it turns out they have tamed one of their tracks they used to struggle with. Max was fast.... but the Mercs were very strong as well.

That lap from George was mega. You didn't even need the timing to know he was pushing the car for all it was worth. And it paid off with a pole.

It will be interesting to see how things hold up for race pace. Long runs in practice looks promising for a number of teams, and it might come down to the little setup changes. George has been strong here but mistakes have cost him. Maybe he can put it together this time. With nobody having really close tailgunner support, it might be more individual effort if the top cars can all run a good race.

[F1nKS]

Russell wins Singapore like it was just a sunday drive.

McLaren locked up the constructors' with their 3rd and 4th finishes.

Max, with his finish, is still mathematically in the hunt. Norris almost took Norris out on lap 1, which would have really opened the door. Hill is still steep, Verstappen has only 1 in 800 chance of winning all 6 races. Piastri could put this in the deep freeze by winning any of the following 6 races.

[N. Jones]

Borrrrrrrrrrrrr-ing.

Hooray for McLaren.

[airshifter]

George finally just controlled one from the start, and no drama getting in his way. Well done, and a great weekend for George overall.

Max did well to keep 2nd after that roll of the dice with the softs on the start. As it turned out, the softs might have been the only thing that allowed him to keep the position, that track was slick on the left side. And though they faded quicker, he managed to make them last long enough, and was quick on the hards until the end.

Lando got close, but without the margin to pass all he could do was sit there and hope Max made a mistake. Overall he kept his head pretty cool this race, and other than the small contact with Oscar at the start, didn't let pressure get to him. Though the gains were small, he closed the gap to Oscar.


Well done to McLaren for wrapping up the WCC. Now we just have to see which driver can get the WDC, and this year it looks like it will be really hard for it not to be someone driving a McLaren.

[F1nKS]

Borrrrrrrrrrrrr-ing.

Hooray for McLaren.

Of course, there was some excitement, but nobody saw it - but the F1 TV director thought it was more important to show Zak Brown hugging everybody for the last 10 laps instead of Alonso driving like crazy to try and catch Hamilton.

[F1nKS]

It appears that the rest of the season will be the "Papaya Civil War."


James Hinchcliffe noted that Piastri was absent from the team’s constructors’ title celebrations on the podium in Singapore. He questioned whether the Aussie’s mentality was that he is now ‘on his own’ in the title fight.

Piastri people are already discussing the possibility of moving elsewhere in 2027 due to the team favoring Norris.

There is a clip circulating of when Zak Brown attempted to congratulate Piastri, and Piastri cuts off communication.