Max Verstappen is facing a very different season compared to his years of dominance in Formula 1. If in the first races of 2024 Red Bull seemed untouchable, now the Dutchman finds himself forced to fight not only against Ferrari and McLaren, but also against the problems of his own car. The last few races have highlighted the difficulties of the RB20, which is struggling to maintain the high performance seen at the start of the season. In Singapore, a notoriously difficult circuit, Max Verstappen is looking to bounce back after his disappointments in Baku, but he is well aware that the weekend will not be without its obstacles. In a press conference, the three-time world champion reflected on the challenges that lie ahead and the lessons learned from recent races.
Max Verstappen: In Singapore to improve after Baku
In Baku, Red Bull showed signs of slowing down, with Verstappen never looking truly competitive. However, the Dutch driver stressed that the experience was useful in identifying the car's problems and making the necessary changes. In Singapore, Verstappen hopes to see the results of these improvements, although he acknowledges that it will not be easy.
"Everything is fine. I know it won't be our easiest weekend, I'm clear about that, but we looked at what we could do better in Baku. and I hope that what we did has stabilized the car a bit more. Baku was good for identifying problems with the car and working on them. On the bumps and kerbs the car is not strong, but hopefully the car has stabilized. Confident that we can do a better job than last year.”
Singapore is one of the most challenging tracks of the season, with slow corners and uneven asphalt that puts a strain on the stability of the cars. Verstappen knows Red Bull will face similar challenges to those encountered in Baku, but is confident the team has worked to improve the balance of the car.
Frustration in Baku: “In qualifying I understood that the car was f*****to"
One of the most difficult moments of the Baku weekend for Verstappen was qualifying. From the early stages, the Dutchman realized that the car was not responding as it should have, a situation that then affected the entire race. In the press conference, Verstappen expressed all his frustration for the difficulties encountered on that occasion.
“In qualifying in Baku I understood that the car was f***** and I couldn't do anything. The balance wasn't there and I was stuck behind two cars in the race and the tyres were destroyed. "
The balance issue severely limited Verstappen's performance, as he never really managed to fight for the top positions. In Singapore, it will be crucial to find a setup that guarantees stability and traction, especially on a track as demanding as Marina Bay.
Lambiase's new role: "For me, nothing changes"
Among the most recent news at Red Bull is the new role assigned to Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen's race engineer, who has taken on new responsibilities within the team. However, this change does not seem to worry Verstappen, who explained how the relationship with his engineer remains unchanged.
“Lambiase’s new role doesn’t change anything for me, it’s a redistribution of roles and before he was already doing more than the task of the race engineer. For me it doesn’t change anything.”
Lambiase is a key figure for Verstappen, and the Dutch driver reiterated his full confidence in his engineer's work, regardless of the change in role within the team.
Ricciardo's future: words of appreciation from Verstappen
Verstappen also wanted to express his thoughts on Daniel Ricciardo, who could be at his last Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Dutchman has always had a great relationship with Ricciardo, and his words in the press conference reflect the affection and respect he has for his former teammate.
“Ricciardo is a friend and I love him. If it’s his last race in F1 next year, he can look back and see how much good he’s done. He’s a good guy, he could take part in other categories and I’m not looking to see if he deserves to be here or not. That’s life.”
Recognition for the work done by McLaren and Piastri
Finally, Verstappen also spoke about McLaren and Oscar Piastri, acknowledging the progress of the British team and the excellent work done by the young Australian. McLaren has become one of Red Bull's main rivals, and Verstappen knows the Woking team will be a tough opponent to beat in the coming races.
“Piastri is doing a great job, McLaren is strong and it’s up to us now to make the car faster. Going back to Oscar, he’s having a great moment.”
Source statements: SkySportF1
Verstappen's words demonstrate respect for Piastri and the work done by McLaren, but also highlight the awareness that Red Bull will have to make significant progress to remain competitive in an increasingly balanced championship.
Conclusions: A weekend of defense for Red Bull
Max Verstappen is approaching the Singapore Grand Prix with a defensive mindset, aware of the difficulties that Red Bull are encountering at this stage of the season. The Marina Bay circuit, with its unique characteristics, presents a great challenge for the world champion, who will hope to improve on the last few races. With competition from Ferrari and McLaren becoming increasingly pressing, Verstappen will have to give his all to maintain control of the championship.
Despite the difficulties, Verstappen remains confident in the work done by the team and determined to return to the top. The next few races will be decisive in understanding whether Red Bull can find the form that made it the team to beat in the early stages of the season, or whether it will have to continue fighting to remain competitive until the end of the championship.
