Red Bull faced a challenging start to the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, with their RB20 struggling to cope with the bumpy track conditions. Both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez expressed dissatisfaction with their cars during Friday practice, raising concerns about their performance for the upcoming race.
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, highlighted the issues with Verstappen’s car, noting a lack of grip and balance on both the soft and hard tires. The team was faced with a daunting task of improving their setup before the race to avoid getting stuck in the midfield and scoring minimal points.
After a disappointing start, Red Bull turned to Sebastien Buemi for an overnight engineering session at the factory and in the simulator in Milton Keynes. Buemi’s efforts, fueled by plenty of Red Bull energy drinks, played a crucial role in identifying the underlying problems with the car’s performance.
The breakthrough moment for Red Bull came when they reflected on their struggles at the Singapore circuit in 2023. The team realized that their conservative approach to the track characteristics had hindered their performance, leading to a lack of mechanical grip and tire optimization.
By sacrificing some elements of their ride quality and focusing more on pure performance, Red Bull managed to unlock the potential of the RB20. Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the team’s overcompensation from the previous year and praised the collective effort that went into improving the car for Saturday’s qualifying session.
The strategic shift in approach paid off for Red Bull, as they saw a significant improvement in their performance during the Singapore Grand Prix. While they couldn’t match Lando Norris’s pace, they were able to outperform the rest of the field and secure a positive result compared to the previous year.
The Singapore success has instilled hope in the Red Bull camp that their recent struggles are behind them. With Verstappen leading the championship standings, the team is determined to continue refining their car’s performance to fend off competitors like McLaren in the upcoming races.
Looking ahead to the next race in Austin, Red Bull aims to build on their recent progress and extract further performance from their car. Horner emphasized the ongoing development work in Milton Keynes and the team’s commitment to addressing any remaining issues to maintain their competitive edge in the championship battle.
In conclusion, Red Bull’s turnaround in Singapore serves as a testament to their resilience and determination to overcome challenges. By identifying and rectifying their past mistakes, the team has positioned themselves as strong contenders for the championship title, with a renewed focus on continuous improvement and performance optimization.
