Max Verstappen expressed cautious optimism after his opening day at the Singapore Grand Prix, feeling “quite satisfied” with Red Bull’s performance while acknowledging the team still has work to do to challenge McLaren for pole.
The four-time world champion, fresh off back-to-back victories in Monza and Baku, ended Friday’s second practice session third fastest, just a tenth off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
With the tight, twisty Marina Bay street circuit demanding precision and power, Verstappen is eyeing a few tweaks to challenge for pole – and a shot at conquering the one race that’s eluded him so far in his over ten-year career in F1.
A Solid Start with Room to Grow
Verstappen hit the ground running in FP1, quickly finding his rhythm. By FP2, he was nipping at the heels of the front-runners, clocking a time that left him optimistic but hungry for more.
“It wasn’t too bad. I think FP1 started quite nicely which was getting up to speed with things,” he said.
“The car was not too bad. A bit like the last two weekends where there were no major problems, and in FP2, we had a few things that we tried. Some were good. We just need to try and optimise that a bit more.”
While his RB21 showed flashes of speed, Verstappen knows the fight for pole will be fierce, especially against a rapid McLaren team.
“Overall, in general, quite satisfied. Definitely need a bit more pace to fight at the front tomorrow,” he added, already looking toward overnight tweaks to unlock that extra edge.
Last Few Tenths Crucial to Extract
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko was upbeat about the team’s performance, noting that Singapore has historically been a tricky venue for the squad.
“It was definitely our best Friday in a long time here in Singapore,” Marko told Sky Germany.
“I think we’re very close. Ultimately, it will be crucial to get those last few hundredths out of it. We still have a few minor issues, but overall both Max and the engineers are happy with the car.”
While Red Bull have only won the Singapore GP once in the V6 hybrid era – in 2022 with Sergio Perez – Verstappen is eager to challenge for his first victory at the street circuit this weekend.
With McLaren setting the early pace, the battle for pole looks set to be a tight affair.
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