Max Verstappen has revealed that Red Bull now have some understanding regarding their poor performance in Singapore in September, but is frustrated that he and the team cannot demonstrate their recovery until the race returns in 2024.
The reigning constructor champions went into that weekend having won every single race throughout the season until that point, but both Verstappen and team-mate Sergio Perez struggled to get to grips with the balance of the car.
The Red Bull drivers were eliminated in Q2 ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, leaving them to fight back through the field on their way to P5 and P8 finishes respectively. The team then bounced back in imperious fashion at Suzuka, making their performance all the more puzzling.
Speaking about the team’s findings from Singapore, Verstappen said: “I think we have a lot of ideas, but we can’t really show that until next year. That is a little bit annoying but in another way, it gives us a bit of time to fully understand everything and also work on trying to improve the car for these kinds of tracks.”
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While Red Bull’s 100% record was taken away by Carlos Sainz and Ferrari in Singapore, the team and Verstappen’s attention has quickly turned to fresh matters. The Milton Keynes-based team clinched the Constructors’ Championship in Japan, and their star driver can seal his individual honours this time out.
With a 177-point lead over team-mate Checo, Verstappen has the chance to become the first-ever driver to win the World Championship on a Saturday when he takes to the grid for the sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit.
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Verstappen needs just three points from that race, equating to a sixth-place finish, to seal the deal, providing his team-mate and closest title rival wins the race. Failing that, he can clinch his third successive championship triumph during the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Even with such a historic achievement on the cards, Verstappen remains unmoved. Speaking about the idea of winning on Saturday, he said: “No emotion. If it happens on Saturday, Sunday, or the week after, I know that it’s coming. But it’s not something that I’m thinking about too much.
“Maybe it’s a good thing? A good night out. Might be a bit slower on the reaction time for the lights. But for me, I don’t really think about it. We’re just experiencing a really amazing year as a team. Also, I don’t care where I win it.”
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