F1's Max Verstappen says the Singapore race is 'very tough' but he's thrilled about its return

After a two-year hiatus acknowledgment to the pandemic, the Singapore Grand Prix — Formula One's archetypal ever nighttime contention — is roaring backmost this Sunday connected a circuit that Oracle Red Bull's Max Verstappen says he's thrilled about.

"We're ever precise excited to travel present due to the fact that the way is astonishing to drive," the defending champion told CNBC's John Patrick Ong connected Wednesday.

Though the Belgian-Dutch racer, who's racing for the Netherlands, said Singapore's Marina Bay thoroughfare circuit is "always a challenge," it's 1 helium looks guardant to.

"It is simply a precise pugnacious way conscionable due to the fact that it's a thoroughfare circuit … and you person to ever permission a spot much borderline than connected [a] mean track." 

F1's thoroughfare circuits are mostly bumpier than regular contention tracks and person much corners. Of each the F1 circuits, Marina Bay's 3-mile loop has the second-highest fig of corners, with astatine slightest 1 information car deployed successful each contention to date.

"Normally, it's 1 of the tougher oregon toughest ones connected the calendar," Verstappen said, but it's 1 helium volition "try to win."

Referring to the city-state's humidity, helium added that helium isn't looking guardant to "[losing] a batch of fluid."

"We haven't been present successful a while... truthful it volition beryllium precise absorbing for america to recognize the way [and] however overmuch has changed."

The No.1 Red Bull operator boasts a 116-point pb astatine the apical of the standings, and has a mathematical accidental of winning the championship.

But things haven't ever been creaseless sailing for Verstappen.

In July's Hungarian Grand Prix, helium had to start astatine the 10th position aft a powerfulness portion hiccup during the qualifying session. In spite of that, helium managed to propulsion disconnected a victory.

"As a team, I deliberation we made each the close calls, successful presumption of erstwhile to pit, and we jumped a fewer people," helium said.

In his 42nd lap, Verstappen did a 360-degree spin, which initially outgo him the pb to Ferrari operator Charles Leclerc.

"It was decidedly truly satisfying. Because erstwhile I woke up that day, I didn't expect that I was going to triumph the race."

Ground effect, a car plan diagnostic that F1 outlawed successful 1982, was reintroduced this year. It enables drivers to travel the car successful beforehand of them much closely, allowing for much breathtaking wheel-to-wheel racing.

While Verstappen said he had to readjust to the newer designs astatine the opening of the season, his grip connected the car has been improving.

"I deliberation you could spot already connected rather a fewer tracks that determination was a spot much overtaking, a spot much racing. And I deliberation that's what we privation to see."

The Red Bull Racing squad announced a multi-year concern with cryptocurrency speech institution Bybit successful February.

Verstappen drew similarities betwixt the crypto manufacture and the satellite of F1, saying, "in a way, it's ever astir hazard absorption arsenic well."

"In a mode that's the aforesaid for a marketplace right? Of people you effort to marque a batch of wealth but sometimes really settling for possibly a safer stake tin really enactment retired amended successful the agelong term."

F1, which involves cars racing implicit 200mph, has ever been known arsenic a risky contest. But Verstappen expressed religion successful his team's car.

"I cognize that I person a car to combat for the championship, truthful you don't ever request to hazard everything," helium said.

"Sometimes second's OK, alternatively of trying to spell for the eventual extremity of winning a race, it's each astir ever scoring points."