Twenty-four hours after securing his maiden Formula 1 pole position at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Max Verstappen has followed up with a sprint win at the track. While both sessions demonstrate that Red Bull possesses a highly competitive car in Singapore this season, Verstappen personally remains unconcerned with counting these results as major milestones.
Upon being questioned regarding the importance of his sprint race triumph, the four-time world champion promptly indicated that he placed minimal value on the result.
“My goal is to take victory tomorrow,” he stated. “I do not consider this a genuine win in the context of taking a grand prix victory.”
In the past, Verstappen has openly stated that securing a sprint win evokes zero emotion for him, as he is well known for disliking the format. Even so, one might suggest that winning in Singapore holds a bit more weight, considering the difficulties Red Bull has experienced on this street track during past visits.
Yet when that perspective was presented to Verstappen by Motorsport.com, he dismissed the idea. The sprint session merely confirms that Red Bull is making positive strides with the RB22, but to Verstappen, it holds no additional meaning beyond that indicator.
“My feelings remain identical,” he noted. “Whether or not I have previously claimed victory at this venue makes no difference to me.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Consequently, Verstappen’s full concentration is devoted to Sunday’s main event. Securing a strong qualifying position is obviously vital because passing is so challenging at Singapore, yet Verstappen also highlighted a separate significant worry for Red Bull: their launch off the grid.
Back in Malaysia, Verstappen was passed off the line by both Mercedes entries, and a similar scenario played out on Saturday in Singapore when George Russell swept ahead of him.
“The getaway was terrible once more, meaning it is an area we absolutely must refine,” Verstappen acknowledged. “Suffer a launch like that tomorrow and your race is effectively finished, barring any chaotic events.”
When pushed to explain the precise issue, Verstappen remarked: “As usual, it simply fails to launch cleanly. The car lacks traction at the start, and we fail to pick up speed off the line.”
Red Bull has wrestled with this start deficit for a while, prompting questions over whether actionable fixes exist for Sunday or if the squad must rely on good fortune.
“There are several constraints we must address, and part of that responsibility rests on our shoulders,” Verstappen observed. “We need to execute better, especially since Racing Bulls occasionally manages stronger getaways than we do, so we simply have to raise our game.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
The sluggish start on Saturday ultimately caused no lasting harm, given that Verstappen watched Russell slide into the barrier ahead of him as the first lap drew to a close.
“He stepped out of line a couple of times during that initial lap, which suggests he was really leaning on the car early on,” Verstappen pointed out. “Then coming through the final bend, he touched the white line and naturally spun into the barrier. I suppose it’s a simple error to make, and unfortunate all at once.”
For his own part, Verstappen made a conscious effort to avoid taking similar risks, well aware that passing is almost unachievable without an opponent’s error. This was particularly true on a damp surface, where competitors quickly realized that only a single dry line was available.
“In one sense it felt controlled, but simultaneously, you had to maintain sharp concentration. Easing off makes it very easy to slip up or drift wide, so the main priority was remaining watchful,” Verstappen noted regarding his mental approach.
“Maintain your composure, but keep your eyes glued to the track ahead as the tires wear down and damp patches turn slick while others dry out. Patience is essential.”
Verstappen executed that plan successfully, though he must navigate two remaining hurdles to secure the main triumph that actually holds value for him—unlike the sprint: putting together a solid second qualifying session of the event and perfecting his launch from the grid.
