Red Bull, a significant figure in Formula One, alters its strategies due to the perceived heaviness of color.
Max Verstappen's winning drought in Singapore continues, and it's high time he broke this streak. However, the odds appear slim. To prevent any hiccups in his title chase, Red Bull Racing has chosen to give up on a unique body paint.
It's a matter of a few hundredths of a second per lap, but for the heavyweight in F1, Red Bull Racing, it's a significant difference. As a result, the team has decided to abandon a cherished tradition for the Singapore GP. Instead of showcasing a special livery, the cars of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez will stick with their conventional appearance: the extra color could add around a kilogram to the car and potentially slow it down slightly.
Given their current struggles, Red Bull Racing can't justify the loss of a few hundredths of a second due to a special paint job. "It won't be our best weekend," Verstappen admitted, setting achievable targets for the 18th of 24 races: "We aim to stabilize the car and improve upon that."
There's not much hope on the horizon: Verstappen has yet to taste victory in Singapore, not even last year when he ruled F1 with ease. What's the likelihood of that happening in 2024? The previous weekend in Azerbaijan, Red Bull relinquished the lead in the Constructors' Championship to McLaren, unless we consider their triumph in the Austrian Sprint. Verstappen has gone seven races without a win, and his lead over second-place Lando Norris in McLaren has shrunk to just 59 points. The Singapore GP (Sunday, 14:00 on Sky and in the live ticker on ntv.de) is right around the corner.
Singapore's street circuit poses severe challenges
"The street circuit in Singapore poses significant challenges to the RB20," Verstappen acknowledged, having wrapped up sixth place there last year. McLaren and Ferrari are notably faster than Red Bull at the moment. Mercedes also believes they have an opportunity for victory, which will take place under the cover of darkness. Red Bull, however, sees it differently. "Our car often struggles with bumps and irregularities," Verstappen said. Furthermore, their competition, featuring quick McLaren drivers such as Norris and Azerbaijan winner Oscar Piastri, as well as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, has become significantly faster.
"We must find more power and ease our efforts," Verstappen said, hopeful for the best. With that in mind, Red Bull Racing's decision-makers have opted against the weight penalty of the special livery. "Any extra weight negatively impacts performance, and the team continues to place a high priority on making this car as competitive as possible for the remaining races of the 2024 season," Red Bull stated.
For now, Verstappen continues to benefit from the advantage he built up during the initial phase of the season. "Everything is going well," the Dutchman smiled reassuringly in Singapore. Following the race, there will be another four-week break for the drivers before the season culminates with three consecutive races. Verstappen wants to maintain his composure en route to his fourth consecutive title: "We'll see how it unfolds."
Given the challenging nature of the Singapore street circuit, Verstappen expressed his concern about the RB20's performance on bumps and irregularities. In light of these issues and the significant speed advantage of their competitors, Red Bull Racing decided not to risk the added weight and potential performance decrease from the unique body paint, asking, "-What extra weight could negatively impact our performance?"
