“Red Bull’s Singapore Struggle: Verstappen Decries Disappointing Pace”

Red Bull Faces Challenging Practice in Singapore Grand Prix

The highly anticipated Singapore Grand Prix is underway, and Red Bull Racing appears to be facing some difficulties in their pursuit of an undefeated season. The twisty and bumpy street circuit in Singapore has been deemed as the team’s biggest obstacle, and Friday’s practice sessions only added to their concerns.

Struggles with Practice Pace

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, the dominant force of the 2023 season, found themselves in seventh and eighth positions respectively during Friday’s practice sessions. Both drivers were trailing seven tenths behind Carlos Sainz, who set the pace for Ferrari. The RB19 cars were sliding around due to a lack of balance, leaving Red Bull searching for solutions.

Verstappen admitted that the team’s practice pace was even worse than expected. He expressed his frustration, saying, “I just struggled a lot with the balance of the car. We tried quite a few things in FP2, some worked, some didn’t, but we never really got the car together. So quite a few things to figure out for tonight.”

Understanding the Gap

When asked about Ferrari’s impressive performance, Verstappen acknowledged their speed but also emphasized Red Bull’s disappointment. He said, “Ferrari is very fast, I think we’re just way worse than we expected. We’ll try, of course, to improve, but it’s quite a big gap.”

Perez experienced similar issues with the rear end of the RB19 during practice. He noted that their problems mainly revolve around extracting one-lap pace from the car, with fewer concerns about race simulations. However, starting out of position could make overtaking more challenging on the modified Marina Bay layout.

Perez remained hopeful, stating, “We seem to be struggling a little bit with the rear end of the car, especially in FP2, so plenty of things to look at. Hopefully, we can come up with the best possible set-up because we know qualifying is very important.”

The Challenge in Closing the Gap

Red Bull is aware of the strong performance Ferrari is displaying in Singapore and recognizes the task ahead. Verstappen highlights the challenge by saying, “We’re just too far away, so hopefully tomorrow we are able to close the gap a bit more. But it’s quite a challenge.”

He further adds, “Over a race distance, we’re looking good, but that doesn’t count for much around here. We need to find the balance to be quick over one lap.”

Advice for Red Bull

As Red Bull Racing tackles the difficulties they encountered in practice, it is crucial for the team to analyze the issues with the car’s balance and work on finding a suitable setup. Qualifying performance will play a significant role in their success, especially given the challenges of overtaking on the Singapore circuit.

While Red Bull has shown strength in race simulations, they need to focus on extracting one-lap pace during qualifying to improve their position on the grid. Closing the gap with Ferrari will require careful adjustments and strategic decision-making from the team.

Conclusion

The Singapore Grand Prix poses a significant challenge for Red Bull Racing, and their struggles in Friday’s practice sessions raise concerns about their undefeated season. The lack of balance in the RB19 cars and the impressive performance from Ferrari have left Red Bull searching for answers. As the team works to find the right setup and improve their qualifying pace, their ability to close the gap and maintain their winning streak will be put to the test.