Max Verstappen having other cars "in the mix" is "exactly what he needs" to battle the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for the F1 drivers' championship, according to Jenson Button.
The Red Bull driver will start the Singapore Grand Prix from second on the grid, ahead of the Australian and his team-mate, who will line up third and fifth, respectively.
Unhappy with the outcome of the grid-setting session at the Marina Bay Street Circuit after Norris affected his final Q3 run, the four-time F1 drivers' champion nonetheless has the advantage over the papaya pair.
He will be hoping to further erode their margin in the standings over the course of the 62-lap race under the lights of the Southeast Asian city-state, but still faces an uphill battle.
Back-to-back victories in Monza and Baku have vaulted Verstappen back into contention. With seven rounds to run, he is 69 points behind Piastri and 44 behind the Briton.
As a long shot to clinch his fifth-consecutive crown, the 28-year-old needs the Woking-based team's drivers to drop considerable points each weekend — and for him to continue winning.
Button believes it is the "only way" the Dutchman will be able to take the title, with the campaign already building to a crescendo.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, the 2009 F1 drivers' champion said: "This is exactly what he needs.
"This is what Max needs — he needs other cars to be in the mix, and you have two Mercedes here.
"So if Max is able to trump the Mercedes tomorrow, there's a good chance you get a good points haul over the McLarens.
"And that's the only way he's really going to fight for this championship."
In agreement, Jamie Chadwick highlighted how tantalising a prospect that reality makes the Singapore Grand Prix, with Verstappen "going for it" as he attempts to reel in the McLarens.
"Absolutely, that's the thing. It's what we're talking about," the three-time W Series champion added. "If McLaren have an off weekend, they're not just being P2, P3 to Max — they're right down the order.
"And it's so close now, they can't afford any mistakes. So I think [the race] will be interesting. Max does need a big point swing still; he needs to go out and win.
"And I think that's what's also quite fun to know, Max is going to be going for it."
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