Max Verstappen Frustrated with Red Bull’s Performance in Singapore Grand Prix Practice

Max Verstappen expressed his frustration as he found Red Bull’s pace “worse than expected” during Friday practice at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Dutch driver ended the day with the eighth-fastest time, facing challenges with a lack of rear grip and car balance.

Struggling with Grip and Balance

Both Verstappen and his teammate, Sergio Perez, who secured the seventh position, struggled with rear grip issues. Carlos Sainz led the practice session, securing a Ferrari one-two with Charles Leclerc. Verstappen cited difficulties in getting the car to perform as a cohesive unit.

Verstappen emphasized the need for improvements, stating, “[There’s] just a few things that we don’t understand. I will try to improve, but it is quite a big gap.” Red Bull will work to address these issues and make necessary adjustments ahead of the race.

Carlos Sainz topped the practice session, narrowly outpacing his teammate Charles Leclerc by 0.018 seconds. Mercedes’ George Russell secured the third position, indicating a strong performance from Ferrari, who may have run their engines in a lower power mode.

Russell acknowledged Ferrari’s strong position for qualifying, suggesting that they may be the favorites. However, Sainz believes Red Bull will be in contention for pole position once they improve their one-lap pace. The battle for top positions promises an exciting race day.

Verstappen’s Assessment Proven Right

Before the practice sessions, Verstappen anticipated challenges at the Singapore track, and his assessment has been validated with Red Bull’s performance. The team is known for its strengths in high-speed sections but faces challenges in 90-degree corners.

Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that Singapore is one of the toughest tracks for Red Bull this season due to the circuit’s characteristics. Despite the challenges, Horner remains optimistic that Red Bull can compete at the highest level.

Red Bull conducted evaluations with a new floor during the practice sessions, aiming to optimize the car’s performance on the Singapore circuit. Both Verstappen and Perez tested the new floor to enhance their competitiveness.

The practice sessions were briefly interrupted three times as monitor lizards, local reptiles, ventured onto the track. One lizard appeared to be hit by Fernando Alonso’s car but left no visible signs of impact. As Red Bull faces unexpected challenges in Singapore, the team will strive to overcome obstacles and maintain its competitive edge.