Red Bull is disregarding a treasured custom.
Max Verstappen hasn't tasted victory in Singapore yet, a fact that's been a thorn in his side as a struggling F1 champ. However, there's not much indication he'll change that this year. To steer clear of a disaster in the title fight, Red Bull's team has chosen to ditch their usual tradition at the Singapore Grand Prix. Instead of racing with a special livery, Verstappen and Sergio Perez will stick with their standard design. The extra color would've added an extra kilo to the car, potentially slowing them down by a smidgen.
Given their current struggles, Red Bull can't justify a 0.03-second setback due to a special paint job. "It's not going to be our finest weekend," said Verstappen, keeping his expectations low for the 18th of 24 races: "We're aiming to stabilize the car and build on that."
The odds of a breakthrough in Singapore seem slim. Verstappen hasn't bagged a win in the city state, not even last year when he ruled F1 with an iron fist. So why should 2024 be any different? Red Bull's title hopes took a hit last weekend in Azerbaijan, losing the Constructors' Championship lead to McLaren. Excluding his Austrian sprint win, Verstappen hasn't triumphed in seven races. His championship lead over Norris is now a mere 59 points.
Singapore's city course is a daunting challenge
"The city course in Singapore is a daunting challenge for our car," admitted Verstappen, who finished in sixth position last year. McLaren and Ferrari have a clear edge over Red Bull right now. Mercedes sees an opportunity to shine during the night race. But not for Red Bull. "Our car isn't very adept on bumpy and uneven surfaces," said Verstappen. To make matters worse, the competition from swift McLaren drivers like Norris or the Baku champion, Oscar Piastri, as well as Ferrari superstar, Charles Leclerc, has stiffened.
"We need to find more speed and make our lives easier," said Verstappen. Thus, Red Bull's decision-makers have decided against the 1-kilogram penalty due to the added color. "Every extra gram affects performance, and the team is focusing on making this car as competitive as possible for the remaining 2024 races," said Red Bull in a statement.
Verstappen still has a cushion from the early rounds of the season to fall back on. "Everything's good," said the Dutchman with a grin in Singapore. After the race, the drivers will enjoy a four-week break before the season wraps up with three consecutive races. Verstappen wants to maintain his calm demeanor on his way to a fourth consecutive title: "We'll see how it goes."
Despite the challenge posed by Singapore's bumpy city course, Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team have decided to forego a special livery, opting instead for their standard design to avoid any potential performance loss. This season, Verstappen has yet to secure a victory in Singapore, a fact that hasn't changed his confidence in his ability to perform well in the city state, stating, "We'll see how it goes."
