Max Verstappen took a superb pole position for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, but believes there is one crucial detail still required to enhance a chance of victory.
The Dutchman took a 50th career pole position on Saturday, edging out Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, having taken pole and victory in the Sprint previously.
Verstappen’s achievement marked a significant break of a ‘bogey track’, the Marina Bay Circuit having been somewhere he had not taken pole position before.
It is also a circuit on which he has never won on either – his Sprint success excepted – but his qualifying result sets him up for his best opportunity yet.
The form book over the whole weekend looks positive for Verstappen, having been the fastest driver on Medium tyres during Friday’s solitary free practice session.
This would indicate that Verstappen has decent long-run pace to match the RB22’s ever-growing one-lap pace.
But, speaking after qualifying, Verstappen pointed towards one vital Achilles’ heel the car still possesses, which could undo all the hard work come race day.
“I think no one really knows about the long runs because we didn’t really get to do any,” he said, when asked about what he can expect over the race distance.
“But for me, the most important part is more the start. We know that that’s not really been our strong area, so we need to work on that for tomorrow.”
What makes the anomaly more bizarre is that the Milton Keynes-based squad’s satellite team, Racing Bulls, has a far better nous off the line via its VCARB03 challenger.
Given the in-house Red Bull powertrain is bolted into that car, too, Verstappen, when asked what the reason is for the difference between the two cars, indicated there is no need for his to quite literally lag behind.
“The engines are exactly the same,” he said. “Everything is the same, so there is no excuse.”
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