Max Verstappen On The Verge

Formula 1 returns to the track this weekend after a scheduling quirk owing to the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix.

After taking the customary summer break during the month of August, the series returned to action for three straight weekends – and then went into a slumber after the Italian GP on Sept. 11. The three-week break gave everyone a moment to rest and regroup, and probably ready themselves for Max Verstappen to continue trouncing the field.

Verstappen will be looking to earn his second driver’s title in Singapore – something that may be a bit of a stretch, yet also not unrealistic. Consider this tweet from F1:

All eyes on @Max33Verstappen 👀

Here’s how the Dutchman can take the title in Singapore this weekend 👇#SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/OUkgjIFw9B

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 28, 2022

Should Verstappen win, Charles Leclerc finish eighth, and Sergio Perez finish fourth, then Verstappen walks the Singapore stage as a two-time champion. A quick breakdown of that possibility:

In the 16 races this year, Perez has finished fourth three times, fifth twice, and sixth once. He also has accumulated three DNFs. A quick summary then indicates that Perez has finished fourth or worse in more than half of the races so far.

Advantage, Max.

Leclerc is the bigger anomaly in the title story. Even with Ferrari doing its best to make Leclerc underperform, he has still earned three wins and three runner-up finishes. When he has not had to retire his Prancing Horse, which has happened three times, his other finishes are all sixth or better. The summary here is that as long as Leclerc is not parking his Ferrari early that Verstappen will be waiting to hoist the big trophy in Japan. Advantage, time.

Should Verstappen clinch in this scenario, he will also have 12 wins on the season with five races to go to tie and best the all-time wins in a season mark of 13. As much as his championship is fait accompli, so too does this record seem to be his. Verstappen’s 2022 looks to become one for the ages.

Odds & Sods

Alex Albon is returning this weekend in what seems to be a minor miracle. The Williams driver found himself sidelined at the last race, the Italian GP, after being stricken with appendicitis. Now, many people return to their jobs a few weeks after facing this issue and continue as though everything were fine. However, Albon suffered complications from the health issue, including respiratory failure.

The three-week layoff comes as a…