Red Bull logged one of its most reassuring Fridays in Singapore in recent years, with Max Verstappen hailing a productive start and Helmut Marko declaring the RB21 no longer “jumping like a kangaroo” around Marina Bay’s bumps.
Verstappen’s take
Fresh off victories in Monza and Baku, Verstappen said the opening day in Singapore felt “a bit like the last two weekends.” He ended FP2 third, just over a tenth behind pace-setter Oscar Piastri, and stressed the car required fine-tuning rather than wholesale changes. “FP1 started quite nicely… the car was not too bad,” he noted. “In FP2, there were a few things that we tried… Overall, quite satisfying. Definitely need a bit more pace to fight up at the front tomorrow.”
Despite his record haul of wins elsewhere, Singapore remains the only track on the current F1 calendar where Verstappen has not yet taken victory. “We’ll see in qualifying,” he added, cautioning that FP2 comparisons can be skewed by varying engine modes and run plans.
Marko’s verdict: best Friday in years
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko underlined the step forward: historically, the team has struggled for poles in the hybrid era at Marina Bay, with Sergio Pérez delivering its sole win there in 2022. This time, Marko said the car felt compliant and predictable instead of the bouncing ride of past visits, labeling it their “best Friday in years” at this venue.
Context and outlook
- FP2 order was led by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with Verstappen a close third.
- Setup windows remain narrow in Singapore given the street surface, evolving grip and high humidity.
- Red Bull’s immediate goal: convert promising long-run and single-lap balance into qualifying execution on Saturday.
If the team sustains its form into qualifying, Verstappen’s elusive Singapore win will be firmly back in play, even against in-form McLarens.
