Verstappen ‘genuinely a challenger’ as Formula One championship title race hots up, says Norris

Lando Norris admitted in Singapore on Thursday that Max Verstappen was now ‘genuinely a challenger’ as the 2025 Formula One championship enters the final laps of the season.

The Red Bull driver is targeting a third consecutive grand prix win on Sunday -- and first ever in Singapore -- and is now just 44 points behind second-placed Norris after wins in Monza and Baku.

Championship leader Oscar Piastri’s crash in Baku saw Verstappen reduce the gap to the Australian to 69 points.

Asked if Verstappen was looming as a threat with just seven of 24 grands prix to go in 2025, Norris told reporters: “(He’s) genuinely a challenger.

“Couple of weeks ago, they bought some upgrades, and it seems like that’s kind of put them back on the same level as us.

“The last few weekends have been closer, so we expect battles.”

Norris won at Singapore’s Marina Bay Circuit 12 months ago, and said it was important that McLaren quickly re-establish their dominance after a shoddy weekend in Baku.

“We still come into every race with the ambition and with the goal of winning and wanting to dominate as a team,” said Norris.

Verstappen has never won at Singapore, where Red Bull have struggled with the heat and high downforce required, but came close 12 months ago when he was second to Norris.

“He qualified one tenth behind me here last year, even when we were already dominant, he was only one tenth off,” recalled Norris.

“So I expect him to be quick for many of the races this season.

“But we’re focusing on ourselves, and I’ll try and maximise every result I can.”

Piastri vows to learn ‘tough lessons’ after Baku disaster

Championship leader Oscar Piastri said on Thursday he was learning ‘tough lessons’ as he looks to get back on track in Singapore after an error-riddled weekend in Azerbaijan.

The Australian put his McLaren into the barriers twice at the Baku circuit, once in practice and then again on the first lap of the race after a jump start relegated him to the back of the field.

It ended a run of 34 successive points-scoring finishes for the 24-year-old and could have had worse consequences, but his teammate and main title rival Norris finished only seventh.

“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 kind of recognised a few opportunities from the weekend to try and improve. So that’s always an important thing.”

Verstappen won back-to-back grands prix in Italy and Azerbaijan to cut the gap to Piastri to 69 points with seven races and three sprints to go.

With 25 points for each GP win and eight more for a sprint, Piastri admitted there is enough time left in the season for the resurgent Red Bull driver to pile on the pressure.

“Based on the last couple of races I think Red Bull and Max will be strong again,” said Piastri, who vowed to put his “messy driving” in Baku behind him.

“There’s nothing revolutionary that needs to change or that I am going to change,” he said ahead of the 18th race of the 24-race season on Singapore’s street circuit.

“For 16 the 17 weekends what I’ve been doing has worked very well. If I make sure I stay focused on the things that have gone well, then it will continue to go that way.”

Agencies