What would have happened if Max Verstappen, as he himself stated, had not ended up in the ‘dirty air’ of Lando Norris‘ MCL39 during his final qualifying round remains a question forever unanswered. However, according to Red Bull’s top executive Helmut Marko, the most important conclusion from the session in Singapore is a hopeful one: “We have found the solution.”
One was annoyed, the other judged the uproar to be somewhat exaggerated. Lando Norris wanted nothing to do with the idea that he had spoiled Max Verstappen’s last qualifying round, as the world champion and his friend later suggested. “Especially on a street circuit with so much downforce, you just don’t want anyone in front of you,” Verstappen said. “It’s kind of an unwritten rule that you don’t do that. It seemed a bit unnecessary to drive in so slowly. Normally, you’re told if someone is driving behind you.”
“We were already one and a half tenths faster than the previous time at that moment,” adds Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko. “It’s a shame that Norris irritated Max.” Verstappen: “We were very close (to pole), the potential was there. But well, it happened. Not ideal, but we are competitive on this circuit. And if you had asked me that before this weekend, I would have signed for it.”
“The positive aspect of this result is that we are back in the game,” claims Marko. That is, assures the Austrian, the main conclusion after the past races in Zandvoort, Monza, Baku and now Singapore on completely different types of tracks with a lot and little downward force (downforce). “We were always at the front. We have found the solution,” he concludes, “we are back in the game. The race will be exciting towards the first corner but at least we are ahead of both McLarens.”
