Red Bull's Helmut Marko has explained why he feels it would be better if Max Verstappen did not win the world championship in Singapore this weekend.

The Dutchman is on the verge of winning a second world title and can do it as early as this weekend given the dominance he has enjoyed this year.

The start of the season was difficult but from Imola onwards Max has nearly been untouchable this year, and it's a matter of when and not if he wins the championship now.

He can seal the deal this weekend in Singapore, then, and would certainly welcome the opportunity to get it done and dusted at the first attempt - though the permutations mean it is more likely he takes the crown at Suzuka or Austin anyway.

That latter point might please Helmut Marko, too, who has explained why he hopes Max wins the title in Japan over anywhere else:

“From a marketing point of view, winning the title would be better in Japan, because of our engine partner Honda,” Marko told ORF.

“But in general we can assume that Max will be World Champion. It’s just a question of when.”

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 03: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on September 03, 2022 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Max won't be thinking about picking and choosing a place to win the championship, of course, because he knows that until the title has been secured mathematically, anything can happen.

Clearly, it's hugely likely that Verstappen will be winning the championship at some point in October but those behind him will make it as difficult as they can for him in the final races, and try and generate some late drama.


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