Photo credit: Oracle Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen’s record breaking winning streak came to an end at the Singapore Grand Prix. Struggling with his RB19 all weekend long, Verstappen came home in a respectable P5 position after being near the back of the field after his pit stop.
Qualifying in P11, Verstappen struggled to make an impact at the beginning of the race on his hard compound tyres, although he did pass Lawson and Magnussen.
He then had some bad luck with the timing of the first safety car being too early for them to pit and change their hard tyres at that early stage in the race. This gave Verstappen track position once the safety car pealed in with P2, but he was very vulnerable when the race resumed and was overtaken by those around him as he struggled massively on poor tyres.
On lap 41 of 62, Verstappen pitted for mediums and came out in 15th place and battled hard from there to P5 in just over 20 laps. The Dutchman should be happy with his result and is definitely treating this weekend with a damage limitation mentality.
“I think we had some bad luck with the safety cars as well, both of them. The first one was at the wrong point and also then the second one also came again at the wrong point for us so a bit of a shame but I had fun in the second stint, I think we were quite fast on that medium compound.”
Looking ahead to Japan and the reigning World Champion was in confident mood of a turnaround in performance and hopes to get back to winning ways.
“I think we will be quick in Suzuka.”
Verstappen left Singapore in a confident mood and when asked if the competition should be again worried about the prospect of Red Bull being back to their usual quick self for next week, in classic Verstappen form, he stated: “It’s not my problem what their worries are.”
