The RB21, equipped with the new front wing, impressed both Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing team. While some fine-tuning will be necessary, the team, led by Laurent Mekies, is confident about performing well and competing closely with McLaren.
It was one of the team’s best Fridays in quite some time. Despite not having performances that make headlines in bold letters, Red Bull Racing believes it is on the right track to fight for important positions at the Singapore Grand Prix, especially with their usual driver, Max Verstappen.
Even with 2026 approaching, the Milton Keynes team continues to push development. At Marina Bay, a new front wing was introduced, tested, and used exclusively by Max Verstappen. Naturally, with such a significant upgrade, the car setup needed to be adjusted for the new component, but the team is satisfied with the results from the first two practice sessions.
Helmut Marko stated unequivocally that it had been “without a doubt, our best Friday in a long time.” He added that the team is very close to the top performers, though the final fractions of a second will be crucial. While there are still minor issues, both Max and the engineers are pleased with the car.
Marko also noted that the setup seems to be heading in the right direction, and Max’s confidence has increased, especially after his recent victory at the Nürburgring. He is relaxed and motivated. Regarding race pace, they were unable to evaluate it fully, but Marko mentioned that this was also true for other teams. He believes they are still very close to the best.
“The car is performing better. In the past, Max often complained about the car hopping like a kangaroo. Now, over the curbs, it handles much better, and understeer has been reduced,” Marko added.
Max Verstappen confirmed Helmut Marko’s observations. Friday’s sessions were encouraging, although further setup adjustments will be needed to truly challenge McLaren. A busy night at the Milton Keynes simulator is expected, a practice that has proven fruitful in recent races, delivering two consecutive wins. This weekend, it could again pay important dividends.
Verstappen commented on the day: “I felt comfortable in the car. In Free Practice 1, we started quite well, found the rhythm quickly, and the car performed solidly. As in the past two weekends, Friday went quite smoothly. In Free Practice 2, we tried a few things: some worked well, while others need further optimization. Overall, it was a satisfying day, though we need more pace to fight at the front.”
He added: “We still need to improve certain areas, but we shouldn’t have to make major changes to the setup. It’s hard to know if what we have will be enough, especially after FP2. We also don’t know what engine maps our rivals have used.”
Regarding the work ahead, Verstappen highlighted that while adjustments are mainly fine details, they are decisive. These include rear grip, which caused some understeer in certain moments, and tire management—one of the main factors at Marina Bay.
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