Max Verstappen took a bold gamble by starting on Soft tyres at the Singapore Grand Prix, fully aware that everything would be decided at the first corner. The risk did not pay off, yet this aggressive approach reflects the mindset that the Red Bull team will maintain until the very end of the season, as they try to help Max close the gap to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen are not giving up — and they won’t, as long as the mathematics keep the Dutch driver in contention for the Formula 1 World Championship. Admittedly, the task looks difficult, perhaps even impossible, given the upcoming tracks that appear perfectly suited to the McLaren MCL39’s characteristics. But Verstappen is now in a phase where he has nothing to lose, and that makes him even more dangerous for the two papaya-colored cars ahead.
The risky Soft tyre strategy at the start
This fearless attitude from the four-time World Champion was clear right from the start of the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay, where he chose to begin the race on Soft tyres — the least ideal compound on paper. The Softs are more sensitive to thermal degradation and require more careful management than the Mediums or Hards, making them a risky choice for the opening stint.
Verstappen’s plan was not simply to take advantage of the greater grip the Softs offer compared to the Mediums chosen by George Russell (theoretical data below illustrates the starting advantage Softs can provide at Singapore), but also to capitalize on the specific track conditions. During the morning and afternoon, heavy rain had effectively washed away the rubber buildup from previous sessions, leaving the asphalt more slippery and “green.”
In addition, Red Bull knew that Max would start from second place — on the dirty side of the grid — and that overtaking opportunities around Marina Bay are extremely limited. In other words, the start would be crucial. That’s why Verstappen chose to take the gamble: to use the extra grip of the softer Pirelli compound to launch better off the line, lead out of Turn 1, and then control the pace of the race, just as his rivals had done in previous editions.
Why Verstappen’s plan didn’t work
It was a perfectly reasonable strategy. As mentioned, Verstappen had nothing left to lose and everything to gain. However, despite starting on Softs, the dirty side of the track ultimately canceled out their potential advantage. After exiting the first corner in second place, Max maintained that position all the way to the chequered flag, successfully fending off a rather cautious Lando Norris in the final laps.
“The track was wet before the start, and my grid slot was on the dirty side. At that point, we just decided to try something different, because normally, after Turn 1, nothing really happens — unless something exceptional occurs. That’s why we went for it, but it didn’t really work. If I’d managed to come out of Turn 1 in front, I think I could have won the race, but that’s not how it went,” Verstappen explained after the race.
“After the start, in the first stint, I just tried to make the Soft tyres last as long as possible before switching to the Hard compound. I think that part worked, but unfortunately, the race itself turned out to be quite complicated.”
Red Bull’s calculated risk and the battle with McLaren
Both Verstappen and Red Bull had focused all their hopes on Turn 1, knowing they didn’t have the fastest car in the field. That was especially evident in the second stint with the Hard tyres, rather than the first. While Max had to carefully manage his Softs early on, his pace on the Hards revealed that Red Bull lacked the outright performance to challenge McLaren’s pace. Norris was closing in but appeared more focused on securing a podium finish and sealing the Constructors’ Championship for McLaren than risking everything to reduce his gap to teammate Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ standings.
“Yes, I think it was more difficult than we hoped, for several reasons,” Verstappen admitted. “We need to understand a few things — to figure out why certain aspects didn’t work well during the race. But even without those issues, when you have pace but you’re behind, it’s impossible to pass unless something extraordinary happens. So, I think second place was the best result we could have achieved.”
Gearbox issues and a silver lining
Among the problems that hampered Max Verstappen’s race, the Dutchman mentioned a gearbox issue that affected both upshifts and downshifts. A series of small details like these, on a different circuit, might have cost him even more. That’s why, in the end, the second-place finish can still be viewed positively.
“I don’t think we had the pace to win today,” Max Verstappen continued. “And behind us, the McLarens were quicker. The car wasn’t in the right window to push harder. I also had issues with both the upshifts and downshifts, which made it difficult to extract more performance from the car. But overall, it’s still a good result.”
He also pointed out that things have improved compared to last year: “This year, it went better for us here. It’s still not one of our favorite tracks, but we’ve made progress. We’re working more and working better, but there’s still work to do to be competitive on circuits like this.”
Red Bull’s new mindset
Singapore ultimately highlighted Red Bull’s shift in mentality. Max Verstappen and his team know they no longer have the dominant edge they once enjoyed, but they are ready to take every possible risk in the remaining races. Even when the odds are stacked against them, Red Bull’s goal is clear — keep pushing, keep experimenting, and make the most of every opportunity to help Max Verstappen stay in the title fight, no matter how slim the chances may seem.
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