Once again, Red Bull was led by Max Verstappen. In qualifying, Max secured an impressive second place, while Yuki Tsunoda failed to reach Q3, finishing in fifteenth. Thanks to the disqualification of both Williams drivers, however, the Japanese driver will start from thirteenth on the grid.
Red Bull team grades: Max excellent, Yuki adequate
Yuki admitted that qualifying was not his session. He struggled with overall grip, which did not improve from Q1 to Q2. The conditions felt worse than during FP1 and FP2, where he did not face major problems, and he expressed regret because it shouldn’t have been this difficult.
Tsunoda’s performance has been inconsistent throughout the season, but he achieved a strong result in the previous Grand Prix in Baku, finishing sixth.
Despite today’s challenges, Yuki highlighted a positive aspect: the car’s race pace has clearly improved compared to before Baku. He noted that his confidence remains intact, but he hopes for more consistency from the car. Although starting further back is disappointing, he aims to score points in the race.
Laurent Mekies praises Max Verstappen, supports Yuki Tsunoda
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, praising Max and offering encouraging words for Yuki.
Mekies stated that Max delivered another excellent qualifying. Securing a front-row start on a track that historically has been challenging for Red Bull was a significant achievement, reflecting the hard work done both at Milton Keynes and on track to optimize the car for this type of circuit.
He added that without traffic at the final corner, Red Bull might have been slightly closer to George Russell, but acknowledged that such is racing. Despite not taking pole position, the team maintained strong pace throughout the weekend, competing closely with Mercedes and McLaren. Mekies emphasized that the race will be a tough battle with these rivals and Ferrari.
Regarding Tsunoda, Mekies explained that Yuki was dissatisfied with the grip levels during qualifying, preventing him from reaching Q3. However, his race pace in Baku demonstrated potential, and he is gaining more confidence in the car. The grid positions are expected to make the race particularly interesting.
Max Verstappen: second place a strong result
Max considered his second-place qualifying finish “an excellent result,” noting that Red Bull typically struggles on high-downforce tracks. The car was competitive, tire management was solid, and the team performed well throughout the weekend. He hopes the car maintains strong race pace, acknowledging that the Singapore GP is a long race and Red Bull will aim to maximize points.
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