Marko on Verstappen's Singapore GP Victory Prospects

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed optimism regarding Max Verstappen's performance during Friday's practice sessions for the Singapore Grand Prix, noting it was Red Bull's "best Friday in a long time here in Singapore." Verstappen ended both FP1 and FP2 with the third-fastest time, signaling strong competitiveness despite not topping the charts.

Why it matters:

After a dominant season, Red Bull's performance in Singapore, a track known for its unique challenges, will be a key indicator of their adaptability and continued strength. A strong showing here could further solidify Verstappen's championship bid and Red Bull's engineering prowess in varied circuit conditions.

The details:

• Competitive Edge: Marko believes Red Bull is "very close" to the top, emphasizing the need to fine-tune the car to gain the crucial "last hundredths" of a second for optimal performance.
• Driver and Engineer Confidence: Despite minor issues, both Max Verstappen and the engineering team are reportedly satisfied with the car's general setup and feel.
• Limited Long Run Data: A red flag incident during FP2 prevented Red Bull, and likely other teams, from completing extensive long-run simulations, which are vital for race strategy and tire degradation analysis.
• FP1 Performance: Verstappen finished third, behind Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), who continued to impress with Aston Martin's strong competitiveness.
• FP2 Performance: Verstappen again secured third place, with Oscar Piastri (McLaren) leading the session and Isack Hadjar (RB) surprisingly taking second. This shows a tightening field and strong contenders from other teams.

The big picture:

Singapore's Marina Bay Street Circuit has historically presented a stern test for all teams due to its tight corners, high humidity, and demanding night race conditions. Red Bull's ability to be competitive from the outset, despite not leading the timesheets, suggests they are in the mix. The diverse top performers in practice—Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, and RB—indicate a potentially thrilling and unpredictable race weekend.

What's next:

With qualifying on Saturday, the focus shifts to maximizing single-lap pace. The teams will be pouring over data from Friday to resolve any remaining issues and extract every bit of performance. The lack of extensive long-run data from Friday means that race pace and tire management on Sunday will be more of an unknown, potentially leading to varied strategies and exciting on-track action. Red Bull will aim to translate their promising Friday into a front-row start and challenge for victory.