Red Bull's F1 Car Sheds 'Kangaroo' Tendencies in Singapore

Red Bull Racing has made significant progress at the Singapore Grand Prix, a circuit where they've historically struggled. F1 advisor Helmut Marko described Friday's practice sessions as their 'best in years,' with the team's car no longer exhibiting the 'jumping like a kangaroo' behavior that Max Verstappen previously complained about. This improvement is largely attributed to a new front wing introduced for the weekend, hinting at a potentially more competitive showing.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's struggles at the Marina Bay Street Circuit have been a notable anomaly in their otherwise dominant recent history. Since the turbo-hybrid era began in 2014, they have secured only one pole position and one victory (Sergio Perez in 2022) at this track. A strong performance here would not only mark a significant breakthrough but also underscore the team's ability to adapt and overcome specific circuit challenges, reinforcing their championship aspirations.

The Details:

• Improved Car Behavior: Max Verstappen had previously likened the car's behavior over bumps and kerbs to a 'kangaroo' at the 2024 Monaco GP. Marko confirmed that the car is now 'much better' over kerbs, with reduced understeer.
• New Front Wing: The positive changes are linked to a new front wing brought to Singapore, indicating successful aerodynamic development by the team.
• Practice Results: Verstappen finished third in both practice sessions, just 0.276s and 0.143s off the top times, respectively. The second session saw McLaren, Racing Bulls, Red Bull, and Aston Martin all within two-tenths of each other.
• Tight Competition: Marko anticipates qualifying will be 'within hundreds of seconds,' highlighting the close competition expected this weekend.
• Long Run Uncertainty: Red flags disrupted both practice sessions, preventing teams from completing representative long runs. This makes predicting race pace more challenging.
• Aston Martin's Pace: Marko acknowledged Aston Martin's genuine pace, noting Fernando Alonso topped FP1 and took fourth in FP2. He believes Aston Martin, with a strong performance in similar conditions at Budapest, should be considered a contender.
• Racing Bulls' Potential: While not expecting a win, Marko suggested the sister team, Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), could finish 'quite high up,' especially after Isack Hadjar set the second-fastest time in FP2.

What's next:

While Friday's performance is a promising start, the lack of long run data due to red flags means the true pecking order for the race remains somewhat uncertain. Red Bull appears 'competitive' on soft tires, but the full picture will only emerge during qualifying and the race. If Red Bull can maintain this newfound stability and speed, they could finally break their long-standing Singapore jinx and be a serious threat for victory.