Verstappen warns a repeat start could end his Sunday race

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Sprint, but warned that a similar start in Sunday's Grand Prix could end his race unless something unusual happened later. He called the start “terrible again” and said it needed to improve.

After taking Sprint pole on Friday, Verstappen was passed by George Russell, who made the better start, and dropped to second. Russell later crashed; Verstappen held the lead after that and went on to win. Verstappen acknowledged that they had been fortunate with what happened to Russell.

Verstappen said a good qualifying session would be needed because he expected the competition to be close. He said he wanted to win Sunday's Grand Prix and did not regard the Sprint victory as a Grand Prix win.