Formula 1 returns to Singapore this weekend for the first time since 2019, and Max Verstappen can win the world championship.

The Dutchman has been superb this year, and is on the verge of making himself a double world champion, which would put him alongside the likes of Mika Hakkinen, Jim Clark and Fernando Alonso.

A pretty handy group to be among and, given where Max is in his career, it seems likely he'll add further to that tally.


He's been in F1 since 2016 but is still one of the younger drivers on the grid and that gives him the opportunity to post some serious numbers between now and the end of his career, should he wish to stick around that long and provided Red Bull keep delivering with their cars.

It's not always been plain-sailing for Max in F1, though, with him involved in a fair few high-profile incidents in his younger years, though the startline incident in Singapore in 2017 was surely one where he was an innocent party.

Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen crash in Singapore

SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 17: Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H and Kimi Raikkonen of Finland driving the (7) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H collide at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 17, 2017 in Singapore. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

After getting a good launch, he challenges the Ferraris into turn one but finds Kimi Raikkonen, who had an even better start, spearing across his front wing and into team-mate Sebastian Vettel after they touched wheels, altering the course of the race and, indeed, helping pave the way for Lewis Hamilton to seal a fourth world crown that year:

VIDEO: THE CHAOTIC START TO THE 2017 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, was another innocent party.

The Spaniard got a great launch but was collected by Raikkonen and Verstappen into turn one, ruining his race as well, whilst Vettel, carrying damage, was in the wall a matter of moments later.

Alonso, Verstappen crash in Singapore

SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 17: Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the (14) McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team McLaren MCL32, Kimi Raikkonen of Finland driving the (7) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing Red Bull-TAG Heuer RB13 TAG Heuer are caught in a tangle at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 17, 2017 in Singapore. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)


In terms of the championship that year, it set Lewis Hamilton well on the way to glory.

He was three points ahead of Vettel going into the race and was 28 points clear come the end of it, highlighting how destructive the crash was in terms of the championship race.

For Verstappen this year, such a moment may prove academic in terms of the title given how far ahead he now is but, even so, it was a reminder how quickly things can go wrong in F1, and he'll be eager to avoid another reminder this weekend.

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