Will Red Bull dominate again?

Red Bull’s unbeaten streak in F1 2023 finally ended at the Singapore Grand Prix as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen only finished fifth

Had the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Safety Car timing been kinder, Vers🐻tappen could have challenged for the podium at least, but it wasn’t to be.

It’s widely accepted that Red Bull’s downturn in form was due to Singapore’s unique characteristics, rather than the technical directive linked ꦫto flexible bodywork.

The FIA issued a new technical directive that came into effect in Singapore, looking to stamp out flexible aerodynamic bodywork amid concern♓s some teams may have been bending the rules.

With Red Bull suddenly struggli🙈ng, many were quick to suggest that the aforementioned directive was the reason for the RB19 looking uncompetitive for the first time this year.

Team b🐎oss Christian Horner was adamant it had no impact on Red Bull.

♏“It's all engineering stuff. There's no silver bullet in this business,” he said.&nb꧃sp;

“I know all of you would love to blame the TD,♔ but unfortunately we can't eve♈n blame that, because it's not changed a single component on our car.”  

Plus, Verstappen dismissed fears that Red Bull’s season will be curtailed by the TD, confident he will be righ🌄t back at the front at Suzuka this weekend.

“No. I th🦋ink we will be quick at Suzuka. It’s not my problem what their worries are,” Verstappen 🍒added.

Even in Mercedes’ period of dominance, Singapore tended to be a circuit where they struggled relative to the opposition - even in 2014 and 2015, when they won nearly every💟 race.

Pe🐈rhaps it’s similar for Red Bull given the unique nature of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, and the fact they expected to struggle ahead of the weekend.

Of course, if Red Bull struggle once again - or at least aren’t as dominant at Suzuka - perhaps there 💯will be even more questions about the technical directive and its impact.

Why McLaren should be second-best

McLare💖n should fancy their chances of b🌺eing the second-best team at Suzuka.

High-speed corners are a key strength 🍌of this year’s McLaren, wit💙h Suzuka renowned for his fast esses. 

McLaren’s latest upgrade package se🌠ems to have moved them closer to the front, particula🐈rly in low-speed corners which continue to be a key weakness.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris feels the new upඣdate is a step f꧂orward, although the same inherent issues remain.

“So you're still complaining of t🅺he same things and same issues, it's just you're probably going a little bit quicker while doing so,” Norris said in Singapore.

“And for sure it had taken a good step forward, which is reassuri🐽ng for here and the rest of the season. So yes, positive from all of that.”

On paper, Suzuka should suit McLaren, particularly the first sector, while Ferrari have struggled at tracks with longer radius corners and maintaining the aero balanc😼e through them.

Regardless, it should be ꦜa💟nother intriguing battle behind Red Bull.

Aston Martin’s Stroll problem

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lance Stroll’s nightmare season continu💎ed in Singapor🧜e with an amateur shunt at the end of Q1.

Stroll was 0.3s down on 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Valtteri Bottas, who was 15th at th𝐆e time the Canadian ꧑crossed the second sector split - so realistically had no chance of making it through to Q2.

The 24-year-old lost control of his car at the final corner, clattering into the barriers in violen🥃t fashion.

Stroll was unable to take part in the race after Aston Martin revealed he was still “sore” after the crꦓash.

Teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso endured a diffic𝓀ult afternoon as Aston Martin failed to score points for the 𒆙first time this year.

It means t🍷hey’ve fallen even further behind Mercedes and Ferrari, while McLജaren are fast approaching in the race for fourth.

Given how they started the year, finishing fifth in the constructors’ championship - behind McLaren - would be incredibly diꦉsappointing.

While their form hasꦗ dropped off, the main ♔reason they’re under threat for fourth in the first place is Stroll’s performances.

Stroll has 123 fewer points than his teammate and is set to fall behind the Alpine 𝓡drivers i🦩n the championship.

To make matters worse, team principal Mike Krack is coming up with new and unique ways to defend Stroll, claiming his crash in Q1 𝕴was clear evidence of his “comm🍎itment” to F1.

While Stroll’s F1 future is secure for now, surely patience among sections of the team is running out, particularly as his lack of form could result in a lo𝄹wer championship finish and less prize money, and then pot⛦entially a smaller bonus for team staff.

Last chance for Lawson?

This weekend could be the last time we see 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Liam Lawson in F1 machinery until 2025.

Lawson has been one of the surprises of the year since stepping in for the injured 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Daniel Ricciardo at Zandvoort.

The Kimi has be𝓡en calm, assured and never over awed by the F1 experience.

L🌜awson picked up AlphaTauri’s best result of the season so far wi꧋th ninth in Singapore.

But ꧋it seems his performances aren’t enough to tempt Helm🍃ut Marko and Red Bull into giving him a full-time drive for next year.

If the reports are to be believed, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Yuki Tsunoda’s new deal will be announ🦹ꦆced at Suzuka, while Ricciardo is likely to stay for 2024.

Williams also have a seat available, and given 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Logan Sargeant’s underperformance, L﷽awson ﷽would be the perfect fit.