Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc Branded “Better Qualifier” Than Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen has emerged as one of the best drivers in the present Formula 1 regulations despite racing in a highly inferior chassis. The Dutchman has kept up with results and has won four consecutive driver’s titles with the potential to win many more. Despite Verstappen’s recent success, Williams star Carlos Sainz snubbed the reigning champion to label Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc as better over one-lap pace.

The 2025 season has been nothing short of a massive challenge for Max Verstappen. The 27-year-old had even given up on the title hope mid-way through the season, claiming that his results did not matter anymore. However, Verstappen’s recent two-race win streak and a P2 finish at the Singapore GP have helped him rejoin the mix to fight for the title down the season.

Although Max Verstappen has achieved multiple wins this year, he hasn’t really started a majority of the races from pole position. This showcases that the Dutchman doesn’t really excel on single-lap pace; rather, he is better in race pace. In a recent interview, Carlos Sainz weighed in on the four-time champion’s disadvantage in single-lap pace.

Carlos Sainz did not hesitate to snub Max Verstappen from the list while talking about drivers who excelled in single-lap pace. The Spaniard noted that the fastest driver over one lap was clearly Charles Leclerc.

The 31-year-old added that it would be between Leclerc and Lando Norris. However, Sainz did accept that in terms of pace over the race, Verstappen would still come out on top and beat his rivals.

The fastest in the race or over one lap? Over one lap, Charles [Leclerc]. It would be between Charles and Lando. Over the race, Max [Verstappen].

Carlos Sainz told El Partidazo de COPE.

Max Verstappen reveals Singapore GP ‘more difficult than he hoped’

Max Verstappen started the Singapore GP from the front row and finished in P2 after a long-fought battle with Lando Norris for his spot. Verstappen couldn’t keep up with George Russell‘s pace at the forefront and was unable to fight for the race win. As such, after enduring a rather difficult outing, the Dutchman revealed that the race was more difficult than he had envisioned.

Max Verstappen revealed that he had a lot of problems with the downshift and upshift in the challenger. Additionally, the rear of the RB21 challenger was very twitchy, causing him further problems in managing a competitive pace. Verstappen asserted that the race was very difficult, much more than he had hoped for, especially due to multiple unforeseeable reasons.

We had to switch to the hard tyre a bit earlier than planned, but the biggest issues were elsewhere. I had a lot of problems with downshifting and upshifting. The rear of the car was also very twitchy, so that made things difficult. The whole race was difficult, more difficult than I had hoped, for several reasons.

Max Verstappen said, as reported by Verstappen.com.

The 2025 season still has six races until completion as Max Verstappen continues to decrease the point disparity to the championship leader. Currently, Versatppen is 63 points adrift of the lead and can become a genuine contender if he manages to carry the winning momentum forward.

For now, the Dutchman will focus on his race pace and take the season race-by-race. The 27-year-old isn’t too overconfident of his chances to succeed this year as covering up a deficit of 63 points is definitely harder than it seems, especially against the dominant force in the McLarens.

Read More: Max Verstappen Blasts FIA over Newly Proposed Cooling vest rule

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