Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

Hints of McLaren ‘anxiety’ after Verstappen Azerbaijan GP win.
McLaren mistakes highlight Verstappen pressure. Cracks are already starting to appear for McLaren after Norris clipped the wall in qualifying and Piastri crashed into the barrier in Sunday’s race, believes F1 journalist Brandon Sutton.
26 Sep 2025
Joe Krishnan
Total Motorsport

F1 journalist Ewan Gale thinks it would be very unlikely that Verstappen wipes out the deficit in the remaining seven races, but his return to prominence is giving McLaren a headache.

“For me, I think it’s a stretch to say he [Verstappen] is in the title race. But what he will be doing is he’ll be causing anxiety to the McLaren drivers. They’ll be starting to look over their shoulder a little bit more rather than focusing on themselves,” he said.

“A lot has to happen for Verstappen to be in the title race. It needs McLaren to have another probably two off races. He probably needs Norris and Piastri to get into each other and take each other out of one of the races. But, as it stands, Piastri pretty much needs to finish third in every race and every sprint at the moment and he’ll still be ahead of Verstappen.”

‘Giving McLaren a headache’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...azerbaijan-gp/


Montoya: “Piastri’s Baku Errors Show He’s Feeling the Heat in F1 Title Fight”
30 Sep 2025
James Rees
F1 Chronicle

Oscar Piastri’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix performance was “terrible,” according to former McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who fears the Australian is beginning to crack under championship pressure. “Piastri lost his temper,” Montoya said. “I’ve been telling you, ‘Wait and see,’ and it was noticeable. For a while, when he was under direct pressure from Lando regarding the points, he was still performing well. But in Baku, the race was terrible.”

Montoya suggested the Australian misjudged his rivals in the opening laps. “Apart from jumping the start, the start itself was terrible. Then he thought he would pass people quickly. He calculated his braking based on those around him, but they braked late, so he braked later—and bang. Welcome to a street circuit. The mental problem for me is more complicated now, because you’re going to another street circuit, which is 100% a Lando track,” Montoya explained.

“You’re not in a position to attack Lando, because if you make another mistake, you’re going to create a world of unnecessary headaches. He has a big advantage, but as we’ve seen, that can change in a week. What he has to do is finish second or third, avoid mistakes, and create stability. Because another crash at this moment…”

“Piastri lost his temper”;

https://f1chronicle.com/montoya-pias...1-title-fight/


Villeneuve counters Norris' comments: 'That's not true'
29 Sep 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Jacques Villeneuve has responded to Lando Norris’s comments about his indifference to criticism. "That’s not true. There's not one driver, not one sportsman that says that. It's a way of trying to keep the pressure away. Everyone knows what's being written. Everyone gets affected even when you don't want it to. It’s somewhere at the back of your mind because it makes you think. Lando says that to try and minimise it. You have to because you don't want it to affect you too much. Just saying that means it's affecting him.”

In post-race comments following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Norris admitted Red Bull’s dominance at Baku. The Brit suggested that the Austrian outfit operated on “another level” through much of the weekend. Norris also acknowledged a troubling reality for McLaren, revealing that the team had been off the pace compared with Verstappen and Red Bull all weekend. With his seventh-place finish in Azerbaijan, Norris managed to gain six points on his teammate in the championship battle, but lost another 19 to Max Verstappen...

‘Norris acknowledged a troubling reality for McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ville...thats-not-true


Golf analogy made as Oscar Piastri’s F1 title ‘jitters’ scrutinised
Oscar Piastri's mistake-ridden weekend in Baku has been examined.
30 Sep 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Oscar Piastri suffered from “jitters” amid the pressure of the F1 title fight hotting up, according to former driver Jolyon Palmer. “I think we saw, just purely, a chink in the armour,” Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast. “We just saw a driver making a really basic human mistake. I can’t see anything other than he just got jittery. He must have got jittery.”

“I was trying to relate this across sports. I was thinking something like The Masters, you play four rounds of golf. Rory McIlroy has played golf for years and years and years, he knows how to put from three yards. But suddenly you are on the back nine on the final day and basic shots become really tricky and you tense up. You start swinging in a weird way, and I think that’s what happened to Oscar.”

“He starts ninth. So he’s a bit tense. You are starting from the mid-pack in Baku. It’s really narrow, especially at Turn 2, Turn 3, Turn 4. The amount of time someone has been bundled into the wall there at the start is pretty high. And he’s got his championship rival ahead of him. I think he’s simply got a bit twitchy. That’s just pressure, it’s jitters and the rest of it was compounded by the first mistake.”

“A chink in the armour”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108295...rs-scrutinised


The key McLaren weakness that recent F1 races have exposed
29 Sep 2025
Lena Ferle
Motorsport Week

McLaren boss Andrea Stella: “From a performance point of view, if you had asked me, ‘What is the most difficult weekend?’, I would have said it would be Baku or Las Vegas,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.

“We know very well that the characteristics of our car mean that it is very competitive in long and medium speed corners, of which there are none in Baku, likewise in Las Vegas. The car is not particularly effective in straight line braking, of which there is a lot [in Baku and Vegas], or when you have to go through prescribed trajectories. The car really wants to roll in the corners, like Turn 1 at Zandvoort is a McLaren corner, of which you have none in Baku or Vegas.”

“But having said that, the car was fast enough to compete for pole position [in Baku], which is a credit to the engineers who have designed a pretty versatile car, even when not operating within the strengths of the car itself. So, Baku and probably Las Vegas, it will definitely not be a surprise that there are cars as competitive as McLaren.”

‘Key McLaren weakness’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...-have-exposed/


McLaren in a hurry to fix Norris' recent bane in title fight
26 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has admitted that recent pit stop issues remain a concern as the championship closes in. The spotlight fell on Norris once again after a slow 4.1-second stop in Baku, following a similar problem in Monza where a front-left wheel issue cost him nearly six seconds.

Andrea Stella has stated, “The pit stop itself didn’t make any difference because we would have ended up pretty much in the area of Leclerc... For me, the most important takeaway was that the car wasn’t fast enough. With a fast enough car, I think we would have been able to overtake and then have some free air and in free air actually use the full potential.”

Stella added McLaren are committed to improving. “We have seen that the racing, if anything, is getting tighter and tighter, so the impact of a pit stop now gets more and more important,” he said. “It’s an area in which we have already concentrated our efforts, but we need to keep working. Every tenth counts for the championship.”

‘Pit stop issues remain a concern’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclar...etting-tighter


McLaren told to take immediate action to avoid looking ‘dumb’
McLaren have been offered some advice heading into the closing stretch of the 2025 F1 title fight.
26 Sep 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Guenther Steiner has urged McLaren to back Oscar Piastri over Lando Norris in the F1 2025 title race. “In the end, you want to win the drivers’ championship as well, not only the constructors’,” Steiner told The Red Flags podcast. “The team is more important than the driver, and the drivers are, as I always say and not diminishing, just part of a team.”

“And both cannot win, so instead of having two fighting and lose it all, you get somebody to win. As much as Lando is the face and the favoured son, I think McLaren needs to be above that, and will be above that. It is crazy, but you have to do it. In my opinion, you have to do it to win.” Steiner added: “I think they will take the decision, because otherwise, if they lose it because of that decision, how dumb do they look?”

With Verstappen lurking, Steiner is adamant that the time has now come for McLaren to throw all their weight behind Piastri. Asked when he would make the call to back one driver over the other, Steiner replied: “I would make it now. “I would do, because I just want to make sure I win the championship. I said I think Max cannot get near, but if I already get the feeling there is a risk, why would I take it?”

'Avoid looking dumb';

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108249...-f1-title-race

[Fortitude]

Giedo van der Garde adamant that Max Verstappen will win 2025 F1 title because of one McLaren weakness.
“I don’t think Piastri or Norris will become world champion, but I think Max will,” van der Garde declared. “His car has become much more competitive. If you think about it, there are actually only two Grands Prix that are going really well for McLaren.”
25 September 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde believes his compatriot will surely replicate Michael Schumacher’s feat of five consecutive drivers’ titles this season, referencing the mistakes of McLaren as the main catalyst. “I don’t think Piastri or Norris will become world champion, but I think Max will,” van der Garde declared. “His car has become much more competitive. If you think about it, there are actually only two Grands Prix that are going really well for McLaren.”

“They are Singapore, where Lando Norris is really good, and Qatar. But what about the others? I bet Max will win Abu Dhabi, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. He’s 69 points behind Piastri, which is a lot, but we mustn’t forget that Lando and Oscar have never been world champions. So they too will have nervous moments. They too will make mistakes. They too will end up off the track. And Max? He has nothing to lose; he’ll give it his all. Believe me: he’ll become world champion.”

The biggest weapon in the Dutchman’s arsenal is the fact that he doesn’t have anything to lose. At Monza, Verstappen couldn’t care less about the McLarens behind him as they squabbled for position through the use of team orders. Now pinned as the underdog in the 2025 title fight and equipped with a more manageable car than before, Verstappen can unleash some of the best drives of his F1 career to try and claw his way back into the battle.

‘Max doesn’t have anything to lose’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/gie...aren-weakness/


Why McLaren sees Max Verstappen as a ‘disruptor’ to F1 ambitions
30 Sep 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has admitted that Max Verstappen still poses a threat to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s 2025 Formula 1 title ambitions. “I think you have got to pay attention to Max,” he told Bloomberg while calling the 27-year-old a “disruptor”. “We have got to keep doing what we’re doing. The constructors’ is looking very good. We had a chance to wrap it up in Baku, but let’s not talk back at Baku. Hopefully we can get the job done in Singapore.”

“What we want to do is we want our two drivers and Max – but we’d like to kind of get him out of there – to fight for the championship and just give them equal opportunity, equal equipment, which is what we’re doing,” he added. “May the best man win. That’s what we want to do. We’d like to not play a role, if at all possible,” contemplated Brown.

“Lando had a mechanical [failure, at Zandvoort] and things can happen, safety cars and things of that nature. Our goal is to just set Lando and Oscar up to be competing for the championship down to Abu Dhabi, and may the best driver win.”

‘Max Verstappen as a ‘disruptor’’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...-f1-ambitions/


Verstappen pushes McLaren into impossible sacrifice, sees Steiner
26 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen can still play a role in shaping the 2025 championship battle, and that McLaren may be forced into a tough call between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, the former Haas team boss argued that even if Verstappen has the best car at this stage, he won’t win every race. What matters, he said, is the pressure Verstappen’s presence puts on McLaren.

“I think even if Max has got the best car, he still can just make, you know, he will not win them all anyway, in my opinion. And so, but it could open up, that it gets competitive and that McLaren has to change the papaya rules and support one driver actually supported to win,” Steiner said.

‘The pressure Verstappen’s presence puts on McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...n-favoured-son


Oscar Piastri ‘isn’t invincible’ as Australian racing icon drops Norris claim
25 Sep 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com

David Brabham, son of the legendary Australian Formula 1 champion Jack Brabham, has pointed out that Oscar Piastri no longer looks invincible following his errors at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Australia’s first Formula 1 World Champion, Jack Brabham, secured titles in the highest form of motorsport in 1959, 1960, and 1966. Since then, only one Australian driver, Alan Jones, has managed to bring WDC honors back home to the country — but in 2025, Oscar Piastri appears to be on track to achieve the same feat.

So out of character was Piastri’s poor weekend that David Brabham, son of Jack Brabham, told RacingNews356 that “it was a surprise to see Oscar make such mistakes. “I think this could give Lando hope; it shows that pressure is starting to build and that Oscar can be cracked after all.”

“Oscar has made mistakes now,” Brabham argues. “Maybe that was even necessary. Now he can regroup, focus, and come back stronger for the rest of the season. It’s going to be interesting, because we’ve seen that Oscar isn’t invincible,” Brabham summed up. “If Lando seizes his moments, everything can change.”

‘Oscar Piastri no longer looks invincible’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-...s-norris-claim


Oscar Piastri handed 'weakened' defence as McLaren prediction delivered
Guenther Steiner does not envisage Oscar Piastri's poor Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be detrimental to his confidence as the F1 drivers' championship enters its closing stages.
1 October 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Oscar Piastri will not have "weakened his confidence" through his calamitous weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, according to former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner. "Oscar, up to now, has made very few mistakes in his career.

"Baku was one where he did, but I think he’s one of those guys who can say: 'I made mistakes, I get over it, I get back to being my normal self.' I don’t think it weakened his confidence. Now, going back to what I would call more normal circuits, I think McLaren will be stronger again."

"The races Max won were on high-speed circuits, with the Max factor involved — like Baku, where that guy can just pull it off sometimes," Steiner said. "But he cannot do it consistently, because his car is not as good as the McLaren." He added: "You can never write Max completely off... [but] if everything goes as it should, he cannot win it anymore. He’s just too far back, and the McLarens at the moment are the better car."

"You can never write Max completely off...”;

https://racingnews365.com/oscar-pias...tion-delivered


Oscar Piastri feeling positive ahead of Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix
30 Sep 2025
Michael Doyle
ABC Online

Formula 1 drivers' championship leader Oscar Piastri has said he is "very keen" to go racing again after his worst weekend of the season. Piastri crashed out on the first lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after crashing out of qualifying a day earlier.

"I'm very keen to get back in the cockpit," Piastri said in the lead-up to the weekend. "On paper, and with the temperatures involved in Singapore, our car has been proven to be comfortable in the past, and with that in mind, I'm looking forward to a really positive weekend."

"Very keen";

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-...prix/105831828


Toto Wolff reaches verdict over stunning Max Verstappen F1 title upset
Toto Wolff has reached his judgement on whether Max Verstappen can launch a stunning F1 title upset.
1 October 2025
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Toto Wolff believes it is a "long shot" for Max Verstappen to pull off a stunning F1 title upset and defeat McLaren. "I think you always need to keep your feet on the ground and stay humble," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.

"He is on a good run, the car is good, and with Max Verstappen, you always need to be wary of what he can achieve, especially if he sees that the [title] is back on the cards. But 69 points is a long shot, things need to work in his favour, but a DNF for the championship leader, and Max scoring 25 points, things can swing quickly."

"Long shot";

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff...f1-title-upset

[Fortitude]

F1 paddock rallies with sympathy for Lewis Hamilton after death of Roscoe.
“After four days on life support, fighting with every bit of strength he had, I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe,” Hamilton wrote.
01 Oct 2025
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Hamilton’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc sent a heart, while erstwhile Mercedes stablemate George Russell replied: “I’m so sorry for your loss mate.” Pierre Gasly, who owns Simba, a Toy Poodle responded: “So sorry for your loss.” Esteban Ocon wrote a similar message of support for Hamilton: “We are all thinking of you Lewis. We will miss you Roscoe, RIP.” Mercedes said: “Our thoughts are with you, Lewis. Roscoe brought so much joy to those who met him and he’ll always be a part of our family.”

Hamilton’s new home Ferrari shared: “So sorry for your loss, Lewis. Roscoe was an amazing dog, and he will never be forgotten.” McLaren, his first team in F1 back in 2007, added its own poignant message: “Our thoughts are with you, Lewis. Roscoe was a star of the paddock and will be missed.” Red Bull commented: “Really sorry for your loss, Lewis,” Sauber adding: “He’ll be so missed in the paddock! Sorry for your loss, Lewis.”

Williams posted: “All of our thoughts are with you Lewis. So sorry for your loss,” as boss James Vowles added: “My deepest condolences Lewis. Thinking of you both.” Alpine also shared its own message of sympathy. “So sorry for your loss, Lewis. We’ll miss seeing Roscoe around the paddock.” F1 concluded: “Rest in Peace Roscoe Hamilton, a true star in his own right…. The FIA also posted a message: “The FIA family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Roscoe. Our thoughts are with you Lewis.”

‘F1 paddock rallies with sympathy’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...ath-of-roscoe/


Tributes Pour in From F1 Paddock After Lewis Hamilton's Dog Roscoe Dies
September 30, 2025
Nelson Espinal Newsweek
Bellingham Herald

F1’s official account: “Rest in Peace Roscoe Hamilton, a true star in his own right.
“Lewis Hamilton's beloved Roscoe brought smiles to the paddock and warmed the hearts of fans all over the world. Our thoughts are with Lewis during this difficult time.
“Rest easy Roscoe, from paddock pup to Dogue icon, thank you for the pawprints you left on all of our hearts.”

The seven-time World Champion adopted Roscoe in 2013, and the pair have been inseparable ever since. In fact, both the driver and Rosce were on a vegan diet. The new diet allowed for Roscoe’s health problems to be minimized until recently, when the dog battled through issues that he had always battled throughout his life.

Roscoe became a social media icon, with 1.4 million followers on Instagram in an account dedicated to the dog. There were several shots of him living his best life alongside Hamilton. Roscoe was a true star in the F1 paddock and around the world. His presence will be missed.

‘Tributes Pour in’;

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/spo...mainstage_card


Lewis Hamilton pays touching tribute to “amazing friend” who cared for Roscoe
“While I was travelling, she would take care of him and loved him as if he was hers. She was there every day, all day.”
01 Oct 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Lewis Hamilton has paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend Kirstin, who cared for his late dog Roscoe while he was away racing in F1. On Monday, Hamilton confirmed that Roscoe had passed away following a battle with pneumonia.

In a post on his Instagram story, Hamilton thanked his “amazing friend,” Kirstin, lauding her as a key reason why Roscoe had such a long life, exceeding the typical lifespan for a Bulldog. Hamilton wrote: “I want you to take time to uplift my amazing friend Kirstin. She trained both Roscoe and Coco and treated them like family. She helped look after their health and it is really through her that Roscoe lived so long.”

“While I was travelling, she would take care of him and loved him as if he was hers. She was there every day, all day. Even with a family and other dogs to look after, she never missed a day. We stood together when letting Roscoe go. I am so grateful to have had her in my life and Roscoe’s life. There is nobody like you Kirstin. Thank you.”

“It is really through her (Kirstin ) that Roscoe lived so long”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108296...o-cared-roscoe


Lewis Hamilton's dog Roscoe dies in F1 star's arms as he shares devastating news
The driver's beloved pooch passed away last night.
29 Sep 2025
Daniel Moxon and Rachel Cronin
Daily Record

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed the tragic news of his beloved bulldog Roscoe's death today. The seven-time Formula 1 champion had remained at his faithful companion's side since last Wednesday, when he rushed the bulldog to a vet clinic following a "scary few hours" where his pup's condition rapidly declined.

However, matters took a turn for the worse on Friday, September 26, when Hamilton revealed his dog had slipped into a coma, reports the Mirror. He told followers on social media: "Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts. I want to keep you all updated. Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe.

‘Lewis Hamilton's dog Roscoe dies in F1 star's arms’;

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entert...-dies-35985733


‘Hardest decision of my life’: Hamilton’s heartbreak after death of beloved dog
September 30th, 2025
AFP from Afp
Fox Sports (Australia)

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he made the “hardest decision” of his life to put his 12-year-old bulldog Roscoe to sleep. The British former world champion missed a Formula One tyre test in Italy on Friday to be with his sick pet, who had been hospitalised with pneumonia.

The 40-year-old Ferrari driver said Roscoe had died in his arms on Sunday. “After four days on life support, fighting with every bit of strength he had, I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe. He never stopped fighting, right until the very end,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram.

“I feel so grateful and honoured to have shared my life with such a beautiful soul, an angel and true friend. Bringing Roscoe into my life was the best decision I ever made, and I will forever cherish the memories we created together. It is one of the most painful experiences and I feel a deep connection to everyone who has gone through the loss of a beloved pet.”

‘Hardest decision of my life’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...b460ddbc45bf36


Jeremy Clarkson offers sympathy to Hamilton following Roscoe’s passing
30 Sep 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson also reacted to the passing of Roscoe. Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson also reacted under one of Ferrari driver's posts. The Briton wrote: "Really sorry to hear that. It's hell."

‘Jeremy Clarkson offers sympathy’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/jerem...oscoes-passing

[Fortitude]

How McLaren can win the F1 constructors’ in Singapore.
With seven rounds remaining, including Singapore, McLaren need just 13 points from the Marina Bay race to secure their second consecutive constructors’ crown and 10th overall.
2 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

A single podium finish from either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri would be enough to confirm the title. The team’s dominance this season has been striking. With 12 wins and seven one-two finishes, McLaren has rarely been challenged at the front, bar the occasional one-man effort from Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Even if Mercedes were to claim a 1-2 in Singapore with a McLaren on the podium, the points gap would remain too large for the title fight to continue, given the 303 points still available after this weekend. Ferrari would need to outscore McLaren by 35 points to keep the championship alive beyond Singapore — an outcome that is highly improbable.

‘A single podium finish’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-h...-permutations/


How McLaren can seal F1 2025 constructors' championship this weekend
Oct 2, 2025
The Race

As it stands: F1 2025 constructors' championship (17/24 rounds)
1 McLaren 623
2 Mercedes 290
3 Ferrari 286
4 Red Bull 272

Mercedes is 333 points behind McLaren and must end the weekend 302 points behind or closer (owing to McLaren's superior tally of wins in the event of a countback) to take the constructors' championship fight to the US GP later this month. That means Mercedes must outscore McLaren by 31 points or more. Even a 1-2 finish in Singapore would not guarantee the title fight was prolonged; in that scenario, Mercedes would need McLaren's drivers to score a combined 12 points or fewer.

Ferrari is 337 points behind McLaren and like Mercedes must end the weekend 302 points behind or nearer to keep its hopes alive. That means it must make up 35 points or more on McLaren. It can only do so by winning the race and having its second car finish fifth or higher. If Ferrari does not win the Singapore GP then there is no scenario in which it can catch McLaren, regardless of what Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri manage.

Red Bull is only 14 points behind Ferrari but is already out of the running for this particular title. Despite Max Verstappen (third in the drivers' championship and an increasingly ominous threat) winning the past two grands prix, Red Bull is 351 points behind McLaren - so is already five short of the maximum score available for the remainder of 2025.

‘As it stands;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...-championship/


McLaren hopes to double down on dominant 2024 Singapore GP win
1 Oct 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

McLaren will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing result in Baku with a strong weekend in Singapore, a venue where the team proved unbeatable last year.

Speaking on the eve of the Singapore weekend, Lando Norris said: “I’m looking forward to racing under the lights again in Singapore. It was good to be back in Woking after Baku, resetting with the team and spending time in the sim. I’ve got good memories here - a podium and a win last year - so I’m ready to go for it again.”

Piastri, meanwhile, is aiming to make amends after his disastrous DNF in Baku: “I’m very keen to get back in the cockpit. On paper, and with the temperatures involved in Singapore, our car has been proven to be comfortable in the past, and with that in mind, I’m looking forward to a really positive weekend.”

‘Bounce back’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclar...ngapore-gp-win


The race that will reveal Verstappen's true F1 title hopes - What to watch for at the Singapore GP
October 1st 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Max Verstappen arrives looking to extend his winning streak and maintain momentum to find out if he can really become a contender despite a huge gap to Oscar Piastri.

Max Verstappen‘s dominant back-to-back victories at Monza and Baku have reignited his season, but Singapore presents a litmus test of whether he can truly convert this momentum into a genuine title challenge.

‘Verstappen's true F1 title hopes’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1


Bold Verstappen claims 'unfinished business' ahead of Singapore GP
1 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda look ahead to the Singapore Grand Prix, a crucial race and potential turning point in Red Bull Racing's season.

Verstappen arrives at Singapore fresh off the back of two back-to-back wins in Italy and Azerbaijan which have helped him close the gap to Oscar Piastri down from 104 to 69 points. "The last two races have been great for the Team," Verstappen said. "We have made really strong progress, found a positive set up with the car and are heading in the right direction."

Of course, Red Bull's revival comes with a caveat. "Both were low downforce tracks that we performed well at," and "the Singapore circuit is quite different, so will be more of a test," Verstappen acknowledges. "It is quite a physically demanding track for all drivers and in this race it is about really getting comfortable with the uncomfortable."

'Unfinished business';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/bold-...f-singapore-gp


Max Verstappen has already told Red Bull what they must ‘improve’ to win the Singapore Grand Prix
1 October 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

To achieve the improbable, the 28-year-old needs to find a way to win in Singapore. Speaking after finishing second in last year’s race, Verstappen has already told his team where they must ‘improve’ if they want to do better. That point remains key in 2025.

It’s unrealistic to expect Verstappen to win the next seven races in a row, which means that McLaren are going to need to make mistakes or retire at some point for him to have a realistic chance. It’s a big reason why Jacques Villeneuve’s only Verstappen worry is Singapore, because if the gap is extended once more, his chances of the title may be over just as they start again.

‘To achieve the improbable’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...re-grand-prix/


Charles Leclerc identifies Ferrari trait that could see an F1 Singapore GP resurgence
1 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Charles Leclerc has identified a key attribute in his Ferrari package that could see the team compete for victory in this weekend’s Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. “We are stronger in hot conditions. I hope Singapore will give us that.”

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...gp-resurgence/


Lewis Hamilton names Singapore desire key to ending long Ferrari drought
1 Oct 2025
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Lewis Hamilton's desire could aid Ferrari's bid to snatch back second place in the F1 constructors' championship. "I mean, there are going to be races where if we qualify much better, we're going to be in a much better position to race."

‘Singapore desire’;

https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hami...errari-drought

[Fortitude]

F1 2025: Singapore Grand Prix preview, Max Verstappen eyes victory at bogey track, world title race with Oscar Piastri…
Verstappen has never passed F1’s toughest test. Succeed and he blows title race WIDE open.
01 Oct 2025
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)

Max Verstappen has won 67 grands prix across 26 different circuits. Singapore is not one of them. F1’s first night race has long been an outlier on the Formula 1 calendar, but for Verstappen it’s the ultimate aberration: it’s the only current track at which he’s never recorded a victory.

To put that into historical context, Singapore is one of only six circuits in all of Verstappen’s career at which he hasn’t tasted success. Four of them are pandemic specials that appeared only during 2020 and 2021. The fifth is Sochi in Russia, where the sport no long races.

Verstappen’s record is so bizarrely bad that he’s only ever led three laps in Singapore. Antonio Giovinazzi, veteran of three campaigns for the current Sauber team, has led more laps (four) in Singapore than Verstappen has. “You could say there is unfinished business,” Verstappen acknowledged ahead of the weekend.

“Unfinished business”;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...331a6bc187724e


Verstappen assesses chances of overturning ‘big gap’ to McLaren drivers in 2025 title race
Max Verstappen will be looking to make up further ground on the McLaren drivers in the championship standings at the Singapore Grand Prix.
02 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Asked for his thoughts arriving in Singapore, and how significant the event could be for the title race, with the Dutchman never winning at Marina Bay before, Verstappen replied: “It’s like any other, I just try to do my best. “Of course, I know in the past this has not been particularly our strongest track, plus sometimes a bit unfortunate to [not] get a better result around here.”

“I’m relaxed, just having fun, here and outside of F1. In that sense, [it’s been] a good season.” Pushed on whether he feels winning the title is a possibility, he added: “I’m not really thinking about that, to be honest. It’s a big gap, but for me I just see it race by race.”

“I try to do the best I can, and I know that if the car is capable of winning, we will win the race – it’s as simple as that. At the same time, if we’re not able to win the race then that’s it as well. I’m not too worried or stressed about anything.”

“I just see it race by race”;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...G83IGEOBlfP9JE


Norris says Verstappen still title contender ahead of Singapore GP
October 02, 2025
By PA
TSN

Lando Norris believes Max Verstappen is now a "genuine" contender for the world championship but insisted McLaren will not have to make teammate Oscar Piastri their No. 1. "He is genuinely a challenger," said Norris of the four-time world champion. "If you go back to the beginning of the season they were challenging us for the first six or seven races for wins, then we brought some upgrades and improved a little bit.”

"But then they brought a couple of upgrades and that has put them on the same level. We are still expecting to dominate and we come to these races with the goal and ambition of winning and wanting to dominate and continue the form we have shown all season. But in Baku we had the car to win and we didn't. We had the chance to fight Max. At the round before in Monza they were too quick for us.”

“And if there are some races coming up where he is too fast, which is very possible, because I expect them to be quick for many of the races this season. We will go to Las Vegas and other low-downforce tracks where we don't expect to be as great as we have been - so that is an opportunity for Red Bull -but we are just focusing on ourselves and maximising our performances."

‘Max Verstappen is now a "genuine" contender for the world championship’;

https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/formu...p-n1-46462761/


Yuki Tsunoda reveals double motivation to build on Red Bull breakthrough
Yuki Tsunoda heads into the Singapore Grand Prix weekend after his best result for Red Bull in Azerbaijan.
2 October 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Reflecting on his achievement in Baku and the "fun" ahead in Singapore, Tsunoda said: "Last time out was super positive for the team and me. It feels like I’m moving in a positive direction with the car, and the hard work we have all been putting in is paying off across the race weekend.”

"Baku is obviously quite a unique circuit, and Singapore will be very different for us and could pose some challenges. There’s so many things that come into play there, the humidity, the night race, the street circuit - it’s one of the biggest tests we have as drivers. But that’s what makes it fun, and I enjoy preparing for it and racing there."

“Moving in a positive direction”;

https://racingnews365.com/yuki-tsuno...l-breakthrough


Piastri: ‘Can’t afford’ Baku repeat ahead of Singapore GP
October 02, 2025
Nate Saunders
TSN

After losing 35 points to Verstappen at the past two races, Piastri said the Baku weekend served as a reminder of how quickly his championship lead can disappear. "I think even disregarding who won the race, we don't want to have weekends like Baku and we know we can't afford to have weekends like Baku," Piastri said.

"Certainly, from my side of things there were some tough lessons to take, but I think as a team we recognized a few opportunities from the weekend to try and improve. That's always an important thing.”

"I think Baku was quite a good reminder of firstly how quickly everything can change, but also on some of the things that have made the season so successful for myself and the team. I think just trying to stay focused on that will naturally take care of the championship picture."

“Good reminder of firstly how quickly everything can change”;

https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/artic...p-n1-46464607/


George Russell picks surprise Singapore GP contenders
The Brit backs Ferrari to bring the fight to McLaren on Sunday, October 5.
3 October 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

George Russell picks Ferrari to be surprise contenders to McLaren at the F1 2025 Singapore GP, tipping Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to likely be ahead of Mercedes and Max Verstappen.

“I think the last two years, we’ve been reasonably good,” Russell said to media of Mercedes’ prospects, including Total-Motorsport.com. “Ferrari are often very strong here. They were on pole two years ago, and last year they were looking really strong until Q3, which sort of ruined their weekend.”

“And of course, we know McLaren at the hot races, high tyre degradation circuits, are exceptionally strong. So I expect McLaren and Ferrari to be the two teams out in front.”

“Ferrari are often very strong here”;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...gp-contenders/


Hamilton shuts down talk of Leclerc fallout after team order drama
3 Oct 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Lewis Hamilton again touched on the team order drama involving Charles Leclerc ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. The British driver appeared to ignore a request to let his teammate through last time out at the Azerbaijan GP.

Hamilton detailed that he spoke to Leclerc following the incident and how the Scuderia Ferrari team are working on communication to avoid a future scenario. Sharing his thoughts during the Singapore GP media day, he said: “I spoke to Charles. Everything’s fine. Charles has been great, and we’re working on communication to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. It won’t happen again.”

Lewis Hamilton also weighed in on his expectations for the Singapore Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion explains how he expects to carry the positive momentum from Azerbaijan to the outing at the Marina Bay circuit. “Every weekend it’s difficult to say because, I mean, this is the first time driving a Ferrari around Singapore. The car felt really great starting the last Grand Prix, and we just didn’t carry that through the weekend.”

“Everything’s fine”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamil...am-order-drama

[Fortitude]

Fernando Alonso tops Singapore Grand Prix FP1 timings as Max Verstappen outperforms McLaren.
Fernando Alonso surprised many by placing his Aston Martin at the top of Singapore Grand Prix FP1 timing sheets, as McLaren struggled for pace.
3 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

The session is known for not being an accurate representation of pace for the race, due to the changing conditions later in the day, but Alonso’s performance will be an encouraging result for Aston Martin. Ferrari also had a strong start to the weekend, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in P2 and P4 respectively, being split by the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

Red Bull have brought upgrades to the RB21, with a new front wing design, to help with the higher downforce circuit. The Red Bull have notoriously struggled around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with the track being the only one on the 2025 calendar that Verstappen has never won at.

‘Fernando Alonso surprised many’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/races/fe...rand-prix-fp1/


2025 F1 Singapore GP – Free Practice 1 Results
Alonso edges Leclerc and Verstappen in FP1 at Marina Bay
3 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Singapore GP 2025 FP1 results
Check out the full Singapore GP 2025 Free Practice 1 results from the first session in Marina Bay below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:31.116
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.150
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.276
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.364
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.365
6 Lando Norris McLaren +0.582
7 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.639
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.696
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.744
10 Esteban Ocon Haas +1.012

‘Free Practice 1 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ice-1-results/


Singapore GP: Alonso surprises, tops FP1 from Leclerc
03/10/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Singapore Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results. Multiple lock-ups occurred in the opening stages, underlining just how tricky Marina Bay can be in the first run of a weekend.

Aston Martin opted for a different opening strategy to the majority of the field, sending Alonso out on medium tyres while the rest of the grid started on hards. The Spaniard initially set a 1m32.592s to lead after the opening 15 minutes, showcasing the car’s early pace.

The session was not without drama. Alex Albon suffered a brake fire in the opening 10 minutes, forcing urgent attention from his Williams crew to quell the smoke and prevent further damage. Fortunately, the issue was contained, allowing the rookie to continue running later in the session.

‘Alonso surprises’;

https://f1i.com/news/549725-singapor...m-leclerc.html


Alex Albon suffers dramatic pitlane fire in F1 Singapore GP FP1
03/10/2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Williams is confident that Alex Albon will be free to take part in FP2 for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix after a dramatic pitlane fire in FP1.

“Alex has experienced a rear brake hardware problem which we are investigating,” a statement read. “He will not join the remainder of FP1 but we are confident we can resolve the issue for FP2.”

‘Dramatic pitlane fire’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...gapore-gp-fp1/


Alonso surprises with fastest time in Singapore GP FP1
Fernando Alonso began his Singapore Grand Prix weekend in style, surprising the field by setting the fastest time in first practice at Marina Bay.
3 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Encouragingly for Aston Martin, Alonso’s speed was evident across all tyre compounds, with competitive runs on both the hards and mediums. His performance was also underlined by the gap to teammate Lance Stroll, who finished 18th and nearly two seconds adrift. Ferrari looked competitive as well, with Charles Leclerc ending second, just 0.150s behind Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton fourth, 0.364s back. The pair were split by Max Verstappen in third, 0.276s off Alonso’s time.

McLaren finished best of the rest after a challenging start. Oscar Piastri, who complained of understeer early in the session and brushed the wall at the final corner, recovered to set the fifth-fastest time — just one thousandth of a second behind Hamilton. He finished two tenths clear of teammate Lando Norris in sixth, giving the Woking outfit encouragement despite their struggles for outright pace.

‘Began his Singapore Grand Prix weekend in style’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-f...a-bay-fastest/


Alonso quickest from Leclerc, Verstappen - 2025 Singapore GP FP1 results
October 3, 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Fernando Alonso was the surprise pace-setter in the first practice session of Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Aston Martin star shot to the top of times late in the session as drivers started doing soft-tyre runs, Alonso posting a 1:31.116sec to outpace Ferrari‘s Charles Leclerc by 0.150sec.

FP1 takes place during the day, so laptimes are not hugely significant, as qualifying and the race will take place at night and so in very different conditions. Max Verstappen, the winner of the last two races, was the fastest of the championship contenders in third, nearly three tenths off Alonso’s benchmark.

Red Bull is the only team bringing some updates for its car this weekend, having introduced a revised front wing and engine cover, the latter aimed at improving cooling.

‘Fernando Alonso was the surprise pace-setter’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1

[Fortitude]

Singapore GP: Piastri tops crash-strewn FP2 as Norris, Leclerc crash in the pits and Russell at T16.
Oscar Piastri set the pace in the second practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, beating Isack Hadjar by 0.132 seconds under the lights at the Marina Bay circuit.
03 Oct 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

The session ended with Piastri quickest of 1:30.714, putting him +0.132 ahead of Isack Hadjar with Verstappen a further 0.011 down.

There were two red flags as George Russell crashed at Turn 16, breaking the nose of his Mercedes W16, before Liam Lawson hit the wall. Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc had a crash in the pit lane, but that one didn’t bring out the reds. There was chaos in the pits as Leclerc hit the McLaren of Norris. Leclerc left his garage at speed, the Ferrari released into the path of the McLaren and hitting him.

Norris’ MCL39 suffered front wing damage as he also hit the pit wall. McLaren changed Norris’ front wing and nose cone and sent him back out. Race Control announced that Leclerc would be investigated for an unsafe release.

‘Piastri tops crash-strewn FP2’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/singap...025-fp2-report


2025 F1 Singapore GP – Free Practice 2 Results
Piastri leads surprise star Hadjar and Verstappen under the lights at Marina Bay in FP2
3 October 2025
Adriano Boin
Total Motorsport

F1 Singapore GP 2025 FP2 results
Check out the full Singapore GP 2025 Free Practice 2 results from the first session in Marina Bay below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:30.714
2 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.132
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.143
4 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.163
5 Lando Norris McLaren +0.483
6 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.508
7 Esteban Ocon Haas +0.584
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.585
9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.752
10 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.777

‘FP2 results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...ice-2-results/


Oscar Piastri tops Singapore Grand Prix FP2 as Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc collide
3 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

Oscar Piastri found himself back on top during the Singapore Grand Prix FP2 session, after a difficult weekend last time out in Baku. Piastri needs a recovery weekend after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he found himself in the Turn 3 barrier on the opening lap.

Despite earlier struggles in FP1, the Aussie found himself back at the top of the time sheets, leading from Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen. Lando Norris appeared dejected towards the end of the session, falling back from Piastri by almost half a second. The Brit has struggled for pace all day, with his race engineer Will Joseph offering ways that he could speed up in the remaining few minutes.

Norris appeared to refuse McLaren’s running plan, saying: “But my car’s not half a second off, is it? My driving’s half a second off”. It’s a vital weekend for Norris’ championship push on his teammate Oscar Piastri, who leads the drivers’ title by 25 points.

‘Piastri needs a recovery weekend’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/races/os...clerc-collide/


Leclerc–Norris F1 Singapore GP Pitlane Crash Triggers Steward Inquiry
October 3, 2025
Alex Harrington Newsweek
The News Tribune, Washington

Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris will face the race stewards at 10.30pm EST time after a pitlane collision that saw Leclerc's Ferrari released into the path of the papaya McLaren. The incident, which happened as the session was restarted after George Russell’s bodywork was cleared from the track, has since started an investigation. The stewards confirmed the that this would be reviewed after the session, with both drivers called to give their sides of the story. A financial penalty for Ferrari appears the most likely outcome.

Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz was annoyed by the clash: "That was ill-judged and badly executed by everybody,” he shouted during the broadcast. “In this scramble to get out ahead of everyone else, let’s try and get out without crashing into anyone. That was entirely unnecessary. They have checked Lando Norris’ front suspension but Lando had to feel the car at 10mph going down the pit lane to see if it was OK."

Former F1 driver and analyst Anthony Davidson added: "Lando even tried to speed up to get out of the way. We need to see Charles’ onboard. It’s a tell tale sign that the Ferrari mechanics pushed the McLarens back."

“That was entirely unnecessary”;

https://www.thenewstribune.com/sport...mainstage_card


Red Bull’s best Friday of the season? 2025 Singapore Grand Prix practice data
3rd October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

McLaren headed the times at the end of practice on Friday in Singapore, as they have often done this year. But Red Bull and Aston Martin had the most to be pleased about at the end of the first day of running at the Marina Bay circuit.

But Red Bull also had an encouraging day. The key question facing the team as they arrived in Singapore was whether the gains they have made in recent races on low-downforce tracks would transfer to this high-downforce layout.Previously this season Red Bull have tended to lag far off the pace in Friday practice, then close the gap drastically on Saturday. However in Singapore they have begun the weekend much closer to their rivals than usual. Verstappen was third, 0.143s off the pace, compared to his previous best of 0.199s off at Monza, where he was sixth.

‘Red Bull also had an encouraging day’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/03/...practice-data/


Max Verstappen finds mirror-image hope after strong Singapore GP start
Max Verstappen got off to a strong start in Singapore as he seeks to add the track to his F1 win list.
3 October 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

The Dutchman ended the second practice session in Singapore third on the timesheet, just over one-tenth down on pace-setter Piastri. “FP1 started quite nicely, just getting up to speed with things,” Verstappen reflected. “But the car was not too bad.”

“It was a bit like the last two weekends, where there were no major problems. In FP2, there were a few things that we tried, some good [things], so we just need to try and optimise that a bit more. Overall, quite satisfying. Definitely need a bit more pace to fight up at the front tomorrow.”

‘Max Verstappen finds mirror-image hope’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...apore-gp-start