Red Bull have dominated Formula 1 in 2023 like no other team has ever done. They are on a 15-race winning streak, the most ever by a constructor. Yet, like many dominant teams before them, Red Bull met their match at the Singapore GP. Both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were knocked out in Q2. This means both Red Bull drivers failed to make it to Q3 for the first time since Sochi 2018.
A Shocking Elimination and Potential Penalties
Red Bull looked okay in Q1 of the Singapore GP Qualifying. Both cars comfortably placed in the top 10 during their first runs. However, real problems arose during Q2.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez found themselves 10th and 11th respectively after their first runs. In the second run, Max Verstappen was visibly sliding from the second corner itself, and couldn’t improve. Sergio Perez got a bit squirrely at the same corner and spun around in the next.
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This meant that the Singapore GP Qualifying became the first in Formula 1 since Sochi 2018 where both Red Bull drivers got eliminated in Q2. To rub salt into the wound, it was Alpha Tauri driver Liam Lawson who knocked Max Verstappen out.
Max Verstappen has 2 investigations ongoing with the stewards. One is for impeding drivers in the pitlane during Q1. The second is for impeding Yuki Tsunoda in Q2. To find out how this story develops, keep following us.
A Scratchy Weekend All Round
Much like Ferrari in Spain, Red Bull seemed to struggle with their car setup throughout the Singapore GP weekend. They brought a few new upgrades to their car which may have played a part as well.
On Friday at the Singapore GP, both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez complained about a lack of rear grip. Sergio said he felt like he would crash every time he braked. During FP3 on Saturday, Red Bull went too aggressive to solve that problem.
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The Red Bull started sliding on its front tyres at every braking zone. To add to that, Max Verstappen complained of terrible upshifts and downshifts. However, given the run of form they are in, we all expected them to bounce back when it mattered, during qualifying. However, clearly that didn’t happen.
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