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Max Verstappen heads into this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix with a chance to secure his second world championship.
Key points:
- Max Verstappen can with the championship in the sixth-last race of the season
- The Red Bull driver has won 11 of the 16 races so fat this season
- Daniel Ricciardo says he is looking forward to the challenge in Singapore
The Dutchman has an almost unassailable lead with six races left in the season, after winning 11 of the 16 grands prix held so far in 2022.
He would need to outscore Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by 22 points, teammate Sergio Perez by 13 points and Mercedes driver George Russell by six points to claim the title this Sunday.
Despite being able to officially end the drivers' championship title race this weekend, the Red Bull star does not believe he will secure his second-straight crown at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
"I don't really think about it. It's quite a long shot. I just want to enjoy the weekend and, of course, try to win it," he told F1.com.
"I need a lot of luck for it to happen here, so I don't really count on it."
Verstappen said he believed the following race in Japan would be his "first proper opportunity to win the title".
Ricciardo hoping to relive past glory in Singapore
McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo says he hopes previous success around Marina Bay will repeat as he looks to take positives from a disappointing year.
The Australian will leave McLaren at the end of the season, with the eight-time race winner yet to announce the next move in his career.
Ricciardo has struggled in 2022, with he and McLaren agreeing to part ways with the Australian still having a year left on his contract.
Heading into this weekend's race, Ricciardo said he looked forward to competing at one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar.
"I've had some good weekends in Singapore with podiums in the past and I'm looking forward to the challenge the Marina Bay Street Circuit provides both physically and mentally," he said.
"It's an intense weekend and you have to be on it but that's all part of the fun.
"I had a frustrating Sunday in Monza with issues to the car, but the team have worked hard to look into that and we're now ready to bounce back with a positive result after a two-week break."
Ricciardo sits 14th in the drivers' championship, 69 points off his teammate Lando Norris who is seventh.