‘We shouldn’t have a sprint where you can’t overtake’: Max Verstappen wins Singapore but raises concerns over track layout
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (REUTERS) Max Verstappen may have won his maiden F1 Singapore Grand Prix sprint, but a lack of overtaking has left the Red Bull driver questioning whether the Marina Bay Street Circuit is suitable for the format. Lewis Hamilton reiterated his concerns and called for track changes to improve racing after a rain-soaked race with nine retirements.Saturday’s 20-lap sprint was delayed by rain, six laps were behind the safety car. While several crashes brought drama, overtaking options remained limited, prompting both drivers to call for circuit changes.
Verstappen, Hamilton call for track change
Verstappen, who started from pole position, secured his first victory at the Singapore circuit but said the layout offered few opportunities for lap-to-lap racing.“I think we shouldn’t have a sprint where you can’t overtake,” Verstappen told reporters.“I’m fine, I’m just doing my thing… but it’s not what I’d like. Overtaking mode, it does almost nothing here. You really don’t gain much on the straights… for overtaking we need to have a longer straight or rather a proper hairpin,” he added.Hamilton also supported the idea of modifying the circuit, arguing that it was better suited for qualifying than close racing.“It’s a great track for one lap and qualifying, but … there’s one place where you could potentially come close to overtaking,” said the Mercedes driver.
Crashes, safety car define the Singapore Sprint
A rain-soaked race saw plenty of incidents, with George Russell hitting the wall in the final corner of the opening lap while leading. The final lap brought further drama as the two McLaren cars collided as they battled for the final podium spot. In total, a record nine cars retired from the opening Marina Bay sprint.Hamilton admitted the wet conditions made the race more fun than it might otherwise have been.“I thought it was fun, but if it was dry it would probably be the most boring race you’ve ever seen. The rain was exciting,” he said.
Leclerc opposes sprint racing on street circuits
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished third, questioned the decision to race the sprint on street circuits.“I don’t think it makes sense to have any sprint races on city tracks in general,” said Leclerc, adding that neither Singapore nor Monaco necessarily benefited from the format.Singapore is not included in next season’s 10-sprint calendar, although Monaco is scheduled to host one. The debate over street circuits and sprint races is likely to continue as F1 seeks to balance entertainment with opportunities for real competition on the track.