Max Verstappen on the Singapore podium - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Analyst sees Verstappen with stronger title shot after Singapore

14:38, 08 Oct

Updated: 15:04, 08 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Max Verstappen has a better chance to win the drivers’ title after the Singapore GP.

"If they're fighting for a victory here, I think they can now fight for wins everywhere else, and it should be a chance for Max to get himself towards the championship fight."

- Jolyon Palmer

The Dutchman finished second to George Russell at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, but ahead of two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

F1 TV analyst Palmer thinks Singapore proved Verstappen can still battle for this year's title.

He said: "I have to say yes, there is [a chance]. More than I thought before Singapore.

"I think the fact that Red Bull were competitive on a very different circuit to Baku and Monza does speak now that they have found something on the car."

Singapore is one of the only places where Verstappen is yet to win. However, Palmer noticed a positive trend.

"So if they're fighting for a victory here, I think they can now fight for wins everywhere else, and it should be a chance for Max to get himself towards the championship fight."

On the other hand, he noted that in order to overtake both Piastri and Norris in the standings, the two Mercedes and Ferrari drivers will need to take points away from them.

Verstappen had the chance to win from pole position

Palmer also concluded that, had Verstappen been on pole position, he would have won last Sunday.

"The pace on race day was actually very even," he argued.

The Dutchman did not finish his final attempt in Q3 on Saturday. The defending world champion was unhappy with a McLaren driver — “not Piastri,” as Verstappen said — going slowly ahead of him, which created dirty air.

Max Verstappen driving the RB21 in Singapore - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

"I don't think that there's much in that one at all, to be honest," Palmer continued about the incident.

"For Max, probably the lap time wasn't going to be there anyway. He was improving on his best, but this is the data of Verstappen compared to Russell.

"And once again, you can see he's about a tenth down coming into that final chicane. I think that's why he's braking really late, trying to carry the speed.

"Maybe a hint of dirty air didn't help him, but I think he was on his way to second place at that point anyway," he concluded.

With six Grands Prix and three sprint races to go, Verstappen trails Piastri by 63 points in the drivers' standings.