Max Verstappen already focused on Suzuka
The leader of the world championship finished fifth in the Singapore Grand Prix. Red Bull was out of the race, during this weekend. Max Verstappen is already focusing on the next race, in Suzuka.
It was an unusual situation. For this Singapore Grand Prix, Max Verstappen started only 11th. This is the first time this season, in regular fashion, that the Dutchman did not make it to Q3. With such a distant position on the starting grid, the Red Bull driver was condemned to a major comeback.
Departing with hard tires, unlike the rest of the pack, on mediums, the Dutchman took advantage of the first safety car to find himself in second place. A deceiving position since he hadn’t made a pit stop and quickly his worn tires caused him to plummet in the rankings. He returned to the pits to put on new mediums, but two laps after Esteban Ocon’s retirement, the virtual safety car was deployed.
Fifth despite bad luck with the VSC
« It was complicated when everyone was on new tires after the safety car. It is also unfortunate that Esteban Ocon’s car came out two laps after we stopped. It’s a shame on this occasion. On the mediums, we were fast. The car was more enjoyable to drive, the Dutchman told Canal +.
If he had waited a little longer, he would have had a free pit stop and would have lost less positions. Nevertheless, Max Verstappen finishes in fifth place after making numerous overtakes during his second stint and completes a difficult weekend in the city-state. The reigning double world champion is already looking forward to Japan next week. We know our strengths and Suzuka will be a good track for us.
