Of all circuits on the current Formula 1 calendar, there are only two where Max Verstappen has yet to win: Madrid and the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. While that is logical in the case of Madrid, Max Verstappen is already heading into his 10th attempt to win the race in Singapore.
The Dutchman has stood on the podium in Singapore four times, but victory is still missing from his record. 2022 could have been the year of his first win, but Red Bull made a fuel miscalculation in qualifying. Partly for that reason, Max Verstappen acknowledged that he still has 'unfinished business' in Singapore.
“In the last few years, we've always been bad in low speed and just kerb riding, taking the bumps,” Max Verstappen said when asked why the Singapore street circuit has always been an Achilles' heel for Red Bull. “This year's car is probably more competitive in low-speed corners, but we still struggle on bumps and kerbs. So, of course, I have unfinished business here when you have not won the race yet.”
Max Verstappen
Following the double podium in Baku and the victory in Malaysia, Red Bull has reason for optimism. The major upgrade package introduced in Baku appears to have had an immense impact, although Max Verstappen stresses its effectiveness varies.
“The updates will work, but some tracks are naturally just a little bit better for us. In Baku, it was a lot colder. Malaysia was the complete opposite, and this is again a hot place where the tyres do switch on, but we still have our limitations.”
Alongside Mercedes, attention also turns to Ferrari, which handles bumps and kerbs extremely well.
Max Verstappen's team-mate Isack Hadjar is fully confident that Red Bull can overcome its Singapore curse, precisely because the upgrade package proved effective at two very different circuits like Baku and Sepang.
“If I'm following my understanding of the car, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be performing on a track like this,” Isack Hadjar said. “They have literally nothing in common, yet the car was delivering on both occasions. So yeah, why not here?”
Isack Hadjar
It is not only Baku and Malaysia that give Isack Hadjar confidence, but also the second place Max Verstappen managed to secure in Madrid.
“To be honest, even though I was out of the car in Madrid, it seemed like Max Verstappen was pretty good in sector 1 with the huge chicane. I still feel at times that I’m having ride limitations, so there are definitely still a few things that we can improve.”
In Singapore this weekend, it is a sprint weekend with just one free practice session, meaning execution will be crucial.
“The most important thing is just to find a good balance with the car straight away in FP1,” Max Verstappen said. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is qualifying – for both sprint and the race, that normally defines where you finish.”
Source: Motorsport
