The dominant Formula One championship leader, Max Verstappen, is determined to bounce back at the Japanese Grand Prix following his record-breaking winning streak of 10 consecutive victories, which came to an end in Singapore.

Verstappen, the Dutchman who has secured victory in 12 of the 15 races this season, had to settle for fifth place under the dazzling lights of the Marina Bay circuit, despite starting 11th on the grid. Consequently, he won’t be able to clinch his third consecutive world title at Suzuka. Nevertheless, Verstappen aims to move closer to retaining his championship, while his Red Bull team has the opportunity to secure the constructors’ championship.

Reflecting on his struggles on the challenging Singapore street circuit, Verstappen acknowledged the significant differences between it and Suzuka, saying, “This track is so different to Suzuka and it doesn’t relate.” He hinted at learning from the experience and having some ideas for improvement, without delving into specifics but expressing confidence about the upcoming race at Suzuka.

Verstappen has fond memories of his last visit to Japan, where he outpaced Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to claim the championship title in a rain-shortened and dramatic race. With a substantial lead of 151 points over his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in the current campaign, Verstappen could potentially secure the championship again as early as the Qatar Grand Prix next month.

This year’s Japanese Grand Prix has been rescheduled two weeks earlier in the Formula One calendar, and the weather forecast predicts dry conditions. These conditions should provide Verstappen with the opportunity to showcase his skills on Suzuka’s challenging curves and elevation changes, a prospect that clearly excites him.

Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, had a challenging weekend in Singapore, finishing eighth. This result marked a rare disappointment for Red Bull, whose hopes of a perfect 2023 season were dashed. The last time neither Verstappen nor Perez stood atop the podium was in Brazil in November 2022, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took the victory in Singapore, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, was on course for victory until he crashed on the final lap. After the dramatic and unpredictable race in Singapore, Red Bull is expected to regain its dominant position on Suzuka’s high-speed circuit. In the constructors’ championship, Red Bull leads Mercedes by 308 points and could clinch the title this weekend with a one-two finish and the fastest lap.

It appears to be only a matter of time before Red Bull’s dominance is reestablished, as acknowledged by McLaren’s Norris, who said, “I’m expecting Red Bull to be dominant again for the next few weekends. We’re getting there, we’re making progress, and that’s the best thing that we can do at this time.”