Final weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia might need had delays however was definitely worth the wait, and there’s not lengthy to attend this time because the triple header wraps up in just some days’ time. Max Verstappen is again on the highest step and Mercedes have challenges to beat as we look forward to the ultimate Dash weekend of the season in Singapore.
Verstappen a menace as soon as once more
The second half of the 2025 System 1 season noticed Verstappen go on a outstanding run to tug himself again into championship competition, in the end falling simply brief in his pursuit of the McLaren drivers on the closing spherical.
This time, a title comeback isn’t on the playing cards with out one thing extraordinary taking place, however that doesn’t imply Verstappen can’t go on a equally robust run with seven races remaining.
The victory in Sepang was Verstappen’s first of the season, however maybe much more considerably it was the first for Pink Bull Ford Powertrains as an influence unit producer. The primary non-Mercedes pole place was additionally secured in Malaysia, as Pink Bull confirmed robust all-round efficiency all through the weekend, and with that end result coming after Verstappen so almost pipped George Russell to victory in Baku, may we see the four-time World Champion decide up back-to-back wins?
Mercedes making an attempt to know their replace
Every week in the past we had been targeted on the truth that Mercedes had been bringing a brand new improvement package deal to Malaysia, however warned “the success of an replace is rarely assured”. And so it proved, as Mercedes discovered themselves scratching their heads as to why their new elements weren’t delivering the efficiency step they anticipated.
Group Principal Toto Wolff spoke of an expectation that the replace would offer round 0.3s by way of a lap time achieve, however after Qualifying he felt it had really set the group again by an analogous quantity.
It was hardly a disastrous race by way of outright efficiency, with Mercedes nonetheless placing stress on Verstappen at sure phases and searching set for a double podium, however there was extra ache when Russell retired with a suspected energy unit concern late on.
Reliability has been a weak spot for Mercedes to date this season and the group have already confirmed Russell will take a penalty to consign him to the again of the grid in Singapore, so the impression will lengthen past his DNF on Sunday.
Of comparable concern will likely be figuring out tips on how to get essentially the most out of the replace package deal, with Mercedes having go attempt to discover solutions through the fast turnaround between races, and with just one observe session to attempt to show out any options.
Antonelli closing in on the title
When Russell retired on Sunday, Kimi Antonelli was involved. A reliability concern on his group mate’s automotive left him worrying that one thing related may impression him, however he didn’t undergo the identical destiny and his second place allowed him to increase his lead within the standings.
These 18 factors scored, whereas Russell failed to complete, means Antonelli is now 84 factors clear within the Drivers’ Championship and shutting in on his first title.
There are nonetheless 183 factors to play for however with Antonelli technically capable of retire from three consecutive races, see his closest rival win all three, and nonetheless maintain the championship lead, it could take a courageous individual to guess in opposition to the Italian bringing it residence from right here.
Antonelli had an 81-point benefit heading to Azerbaijan, however by his personal admission, Baku was not his most interesting race weekend and his lead was lowered by 15 factors on that event. With some extra respiration house after a stronger efficiency in Malaysia, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if he’s extra snug across the Marina Bay Avenue Circuit.
Extra Alonso magic?
There hasn’t been an enormous quantity for Aston Martin followers to get enthusiastic about this yr, however the group have clearly made progress since introducing a brand new chassis in Hungary, with additional good points coming from an up to date Honda energy unit within the Netherlands.
And the excessive level of the season to date was delivered on Sunday, when Fernando Alonso secured a top-eight end for his third point-scoring results of the yr.
That end result got here regardless of beginning on slick tyres for the race resumption that noticed the intermediate runners pull out an enormous benefit, after which with Alonso needing to carry off Lando Norris within the closing phases.
It was a weekend when each Aston Martin drivers had been aggressive, and got here after a really difficult race in Azerbaijan. Alonso warns there will likely be huge fluctuations in type all through the remainder of the season, with sure tracks suiting the Aston Martin package deal and others being much more problematic. However the excellent news is he has already highlighted Singapore as one of many weekends the place the group have excessive hopes that they are often within the combine for factors as soon as once more.
The ultimate Dash of the season
As if racing below the lights in Singapore wasn’t going to be sufficient motion, we’re going to be handled to the ultimate Dash weekend of the season, and with it a really totally different problem.
Whereas the Singapore Grand Prix itself will begin at 2000 native time and happen fully below floodlights, the Dash will likely be at 1700, when the solar has but to set. That’s going to imply totally different monitor situations, and an excellent larger probability of a unique racing image throughout each Saturday and Sunday.
This yr’s Dash occasions have to date seen a unique winner of every of the 2 races throughout a weekend, with the final time a driver swept each the Dash and the Grand Prix coming when Norris dominated in Sao Paulo final season.
With only one observe session to rise up to hurry on a monitor that calls for dedication and confidence across the metropolis streets, the drivers are going to have their expertise examined in a number of alternative ways throughout the weekend.
