Max Verstappen once again demonstrated his excellent form by winning the Singapore Grand Prix. However, after the race, he called on Formula 1 to simplify its engine technology.
The dominant Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix for the first time on Sunday, 24 hours after the sprint race finished at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Several key points were discussed during this hot and humid weekend in Singapore.
For two consecutive weekends, software glitches in the 2026 generation cars have been causing problems. A week earlier, in Malaysia, a similar issue occurred during the formation lap in the rain, when several cars stopped. In Singapore, an incorrect activation of the 'overtake' mode caused some cars in the first sprint qualifying session to have more available power than others.
Verstappen is one of the drivers clearly tired of the complexity of controlling modern cars, which have a 50/50 ratio between electric and internal combustion engine energy. He advocated for a return to a simpler style of driving. The four-time world champion told reporters: 'It's all very complicated right now. I just hope the new set of rules (for 2027) will be simpler.'
He added: 'The problem is there is too much software running in the background that can interfere with the start, or it fails on slow laps. We need to ensure the battery charges in the right place. That's not what should be in racing. You should be able to get out and have a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, and that's it.'
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff sharply reacted to critics who hide 'behind their screens' and suggest that the team favored Kimi Antonelli over George Russell this season. Antonelli, the championship leader, the 20-year-old driver, leads Russell by 102 points and is close to becoming the youngest world champion in history.
The Englishman's suspension in Malaysia a week ago, followed by engine penalties, and an accident during the sprint race in Singapore worsened Russell's situation. However, Wolff responded to conspiracy theories, stating: 'They are mindless, whoever thinks that. I mean, it's completely pointless. We faced this before with Lewis' fans.'
He continued: 'Do they really think I have a button that says: 'George - engine failure now'? I suppose that might be where social media is heading today. People hide behind their screens and then attack. Sometimes I read what people write. I find it amusing. These people really provide me with entertainment when they insult the team or me. I heard: 'I am Satan.' So, yes, overall it's funny.'
During the race, Max spoke despite barely audible radio communication. After the weekend, when Singapore hosted the Formula 1 sprint for the first time, the drivers seemed to agree that this should be the last such event unless there are more overtaking opportunities at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
After the ceremonial weekend of races on the narrow city circuit, which was only livened up by heavy rain before Saturday's sprint, Verstappen, who became a double winner, stated: 'I think we shouldn't hold a sprint where you cannot overtake.' He noted: 'The track is great, but the problem we are currently facing is related to the overtaking mode; it does almost nothing here,' Verstappen said about the electric boost available to drivers.
Sunday's race, consisting of 62 laps, mostly proceeded without incident after the field stabilized after the start, and only Hamilton's mistake in tire choice affected the order of the top six drivers on the grid. Hamilton was one of many drivers calling for changes to the track to ensure more head-to-head races. The seven-time world champion stated: 'I think some adjustments can be made to make this track 100% brilliant. But do I know if they will do it? I think they need to change the track, perhaps add a longer straight section to allow us to overtake, and then it will become a truly great racing track.'