Max Verstappen’s quest to conquer Singapore’s street circuit continues, as the Red Bull RB22 faces a new sprint weekend that tests low‑speed handling.
Unfinished Business at Marina Bay
Only the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore remains in Verstappen’s trophy list, after four podiums but no victory. He acknowledged that the circuit’s bumps and kerbs still catch the car off‑balance.
“In recent years we have been bad in low‑speed corners and kerb riding,” Verstappen said at Thursday’s paddock media day. “This season’s car is more competitive there, but the bumps still fight us.”
He added that, with every return, his priority is to close the gap to winners, yet he remains realistic about the challenges that Singapore’s night layout presents.
RB22 Shows Versatility From Baku to Malaysia
After the extensive upgrades in Baku, the RB22 demonstrated strong performance in both the low‑temperature city track and the high‑heat Malaysian circuit.
Verstappen noted that the updates “work” but that some circuits favour them more naturally. “Baku was colder and harder to switch tyres, Malaysia opposite – hot and tyres still switch,” he explained.
He emphasized that the car’s balance problems in Singapore might be solved, citing the strong second place that screamed at the 2022 Bahrain and Sepang whereas the car was able to out‑drive rivals on street curls.
Isack Hadjar Keeps Optimism Alike
Red Bull’s chief race engineer also insisted the upgraded package should make the RB22 capable on the Marina Bay layout. “We saw good performance in Baku and Sepang, tracks that share nothing, yet the car delivered,” he told Motorsport.com.
Hadjar referenced the 2022 Madrid result, where he perceived Max handling Sector 1 well – “although we still want to improve the ride limitations and bump handling,” he added.
Challenges of a Sprint Weekend
Singapore’s sprint format limits teams to one free‑practice session, demanding quick adaptation and product deployment. “Finding the right balance in FP1 is essential,” Verstappen said.
He highlighted the difference between day and night sessions, noting that daytime grip is lower and tyre wear higher. “Qualifying is vital for both sprint and race, it defines where you finish,” he added.
Looking Ahead
With the Sprint weekend adding an extra layer of pressure, Red Bull’s reinforced RB22 must now address kerb riding and rough‑track resilience if it is to translate potential into a Singapore win.
Photo by: Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
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