Following his dominant victory at the Nordschleife, it’s time for Max Verstappen to head to Singapore. The night race is the only Grand Prix on the current F1 calendar that the Dutchman has yet to claim. A year ago, he came closest when he finished second behind winner Lando Norris. Therefore, there are still ‘unfinished business’ for the Red Bull driver at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Before Max Verstappen, along with teammate Chris Lulham, drove dominantly to victory in the GT3, the Dutchman had also done so during the Grands Prix of Italy and Azerbaijan. The momentum is on the side of the Red Bull driver. “The last two races were great for the team,” Verstappen also reflects. “We have really made great progress, found a positive setup for the car, and are moving in the right direction.”
However, Verstappen does not believe that the success in Italy and Azerbaijan will easily translate into a victory in Singapore. The narrow streets combined with high temperatures and humidity make the Marina Bay Street Circuit a treacherous track. “Italy and Azerbaijan were low downforce circuits where we performed well. However, the Singapore circuit is very different, so it will be more of a test,” Verstappen continues. “It’s a physically demanding circuit for all drivers and in this race, it’s about being comfortable with the uncomfortable. It’s a cool street circuit to drive on, but of course, I’ve never won there, so you could say there are still unfinished business.”
Challenge
For teammate Yuki Tsunoda, the Azerbaijan GP was also a good race weekend. The Japanese driver achieved his best finish as a Red Bull driver with his sixth place. “It feels like I’m heading in the right direction with the car and that all the hard work we’ve put in during the race weekend is paying off,” Tsunoda explains the recent upward trend in his performances. However, the question is whether he can continue this in Singapore.
“The Singapore GP is one of the biggest challenges for us as drivers,” the driver adds. “But that’s what makes it so fun and I enjoy preparing and racing there. I’ve been to the factory before this race and spent some time with everyone at the race debriefing. It’s incredible to see how many people are committed to making a difference on the track, and that motivates you to work even harder.”
