F1: Max Verstappen laments 'frustrating' weekend as title wait moves to Suzuka

Max Verstappen labelled the Singapore GP weekend as ‘terrible’ as he was left frustrated in pursuit of sealing the world championship at the first attempt.

The Red Bull ace was challenging for pole position in the final stages of qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix but found himself being ordered to pit at the end of a flying lap, because the team were concerned he would not be able to provide the required fuel sample to the FIA at the end of the session if he stayed out any longer.

That set the tone for the weekend with it meaning that he would start the race from P8 and, knowing that only a win would do if he was to win the title on Sunday, it was clear his championship wait was going to likely continue to Japan.

Indeed, a slow start off the line saw him mobbed by the midfield runners and an eventful race panned out for Max, with him at one point locking up and going straight on when trying to pull off an overtake.

He finished P7 in the end, then, with closest rivals Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez finishing on the podium, and so he will try again for the championship at Suzuka.

He was clearly annoyed with how the weekend unfolded, too, as he spoke to the press on Sunday after the Singapore GP:

“It is just a very frustrating weekend,” summarised the Dutchman.

“I can of course say it doesn’t matter, we have five races left and we have a big lead, but I want to have a good weekend every single time and we had a really terrible weekend. 

“It started, of course, yesterday with the big f*** up in qualifying.” 

Of course, Max still has a lead of over 100 points in the Drivers’ standings and so he can go to Suzuka with a better chance of winning the title than he did in Singapore anyway.

It’s a sign of his mentality that