SINGAPORE VICTORY LEAVES VERSTAPPEN ONE WIN AWAY FROM A FULL SET – BUT NOT FOR LONG

Verstappen's Singapore breakthrough—his first win at Marina Bay after nine attempts—left him one circuit shy of sweeping the current F1 calendar. Only the Madring, which debuted this year, escaped him. But that clean sweep is already obsolete: three new venues join the 2027 schedule, plus two tracks where he's never won (Algarve, Istanbul Park) return from hiatus.

Hamilton's in the same bind. He last owned every circuit in 2018 when the calendar listed 21 tracks; next year's schedule runs 24. The moving target means Verstappen's chase for a full set resets every time F1 adds another city street circuit.

Verstappen's 50th pole came faster than anyone except Senna. Red Bull snapped Mercedes' streak of leading at least one lap every race this season but still trails by 10 wins overall. Racing Bulls hit 100 points for their best haul since 2021.