Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, has been on a record-breaking streak, recently surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s nine consecutive wins with an impressive 10 in a row. RBR has been virtually unstoppable this season, winning all 14 races,  with Verstappen firmly establishing himself as the driver to beat. However, the Marina Bay Street Circuit proved to be a different beast altogether. Ferrari, historically strong at this track, came out with a vengeance, dominating the free practice sessions. Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez struggled to find the right setup, a stark contrast to their previous performances. The real shocker, though, came during the final practice session when Verstappen unleashed an expletive-laden tirade over the team radio, expressing his frustration with the car’s performance.

The pressure was mounting as they faced the possibility of losing their winning streak, and the frustration was palpable. But how did Lewis Hamilton fit into this narrative? Earlier in the season, at the press conference after the British GP, Hamilton had playfully poked fun at Verstappen’s tendency to use colorful language over the team radio. When asked about the seriousness of Verstappen’s radio messages during the race, Hamilton interrupted with a grin and quipped, “Did you put the F-word in any of those words?” Verstappen, chuckling, responded with, “Actually, no, not this time!” Hamilton’s cheeky remark took on a new significance as Verstappen’s radio message in Singapore contained exactly that: a profanity-laden complaint, affirming Hamilton’s lighthearted prophecy that “Only when you say the F-word, you mean it.”

In a rare moment of vulnerability and exasperation, during the final practice session, Max Verstappen’s radio transmission provided a shocking insight into the turmoil within the Red Bull camp. His explicit outburst was a clear indication of his dissatisfaction with the car’s performance. He vociferously complained, delivering an expletive-laden message that left no room for doubt: “I’m sorry, but I cannot drive with these upshifts. What the f**k is this? Unacceptable.” Verstappen’s frustration mirrored the challenges faced by the team to adapt to the unique demands of the Marina Bay Street Circuit. This fiery exchange not only exposed the intensity of the battle for supremacy but also raised questions about the Red Bull team’s ability to maintain their winning streak.

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As the sun set on the FP3, Max Verstappen’s outburst echoed through the paddock, leaving fans and pundits alike speculating on the impact it would have on the upcoming qualifying and race. This incident also adds weight to Lewis Hamilton’s earlier playful jab about Verstappen’s use of profanity, suggesting that when Verstappen says the F-word, he means it.

Max Verstappen & Co.’s technical woes in Singapore

As the Singapore GP practice sessions unfolded, it became evident that both RB19s were struggling on the Marina Bay Street Circuit. However, this poor performance did not entirely take the team by surprise. Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and Christian Horner had already voiced their concerns, and the culprit seemed to be a recent technical directive, TD018, issued by the FIA. Which aimed to limit the flexibility and deformation of wing elements while reducing the gaps between flaps and the wing itself. Although not a groundbreaking change, it posed a challenge for the aerodynamicists.

During practice, both Verstappen and Perez experimented with different setups to address difficulties at corner entrance and the rear instability of the RB19 on corner exit. Red Bull’s choice to set a higher ride height, ostensibly to avoid curbs that effectively acted as track limits, might have inadvertently altered the car’s dynamics, reducing its overall performance. This set-up change, combined with the limitations imposed by TD018, left little room for adjustments before qualifying.

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