Max Verstappen sent offer to quit Red Bull and join F1 rival keen to be his team-mate
Red Bull can clinch the 2023 F1 Constructors’ Championship at the Singapore Grand Prix – seven races before the end of the season. The team was dominant in 2022 but this season they have been untouchable and won every single race so far.
Of the 14 races completed so far this year, defending champion Max Verstappen has won 12, while Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez took the chequered flag in the other two. Ahead of this weekend’s race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Red Bull has 583 points. Mercedes occupy second place but are 310 points behind, with Ferrari another 45 behind the Silver Arrows.
Following Sunday’s race, Red Bull will retain the Constructors’ Championship if they lead the standings by 353 points or more. To have any chance of achieving this, Verstappen and Perez must finish first and second, just as they did at the Italian GP earlier this month.
This result would ensure Red Bull earns 43 points and would be relying on Mercedes duo Lewis Hamiton and George Russell not to register any points on that day in order to reach the 353-point lead. Red Bull would gain an extra point if either Verstappen or Perez registered the fastest lap of the race and this would give them the title if Mercedes were to score just one point.
However, as long as Mercedes scores more than two points in Singapore, Red Bull cannot become Constructors Champions this weekend. Verstappen on the other hand, is dominating the driver’s championship and holds a 145-point advantage over Perez in second place.
It is mathematically impossible for the Dutchman to win his third consecutive driver’s championship in Singapore, but he could secure the title the following week in Japan. The 25-year-old would have to finish the race in Suzuka with an advantage of 180 points or more.
Verstappen is searching for his first win at Singapore and is keen to see how changes made to the track will impact the car’s performance. Turns 16-19 have been replaced for 2023 by a flat straight which connects Turns 15 and what was Turn 20. Lap times will decrease by nearly 20 seconds as snaking under the grandstand is impossible this year due to construction works taking place with the new section of track.
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“I’m looking forward to the night race in Singapore, Marina Bay is a cool circuit,” Verstappen explained. “This year it will be interesting to see how the revised track layout will impact the general behaviour and set up of the car, I think the lap times will be much quicker.
“Singapore is probably going to be the most challenging weekend out of the upcoming races as the stakes are heightened on a street circuit and the field is usually very close, not to mention the heat and humidity.
“Last year we had a very unlucky weekend, hopefully this year it will go a bit better and we’ll of course do our best to make sure we score maximum points this weekend.”
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