Will Red Bull dominate again?

Red Bull’s unbeaten streak in F1 2023 finally ended at the Singapore Grand Prix as 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen only finished fifth

Had the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Safety Car timing been kinder, Verstappen could have challenged for the podium at leas൲t, but it 🌟wasn’t to be.

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

Th♉e FIA issued a new technical directive that came into effect in Singapore, looking to stamp out flexible aerodynamic bodywork amid concerns some teams may have been bending the rules.

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

Team boss Christian Horner was adamant itꦏ had no impact on Red Bull.

“It's all engineering stuff. There's no silver bullet in this busines🃏s,” he said. 

“I know all of you would love to blame the TD, but unfortunately we can't even 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 right back at the front at Suzuka💞 this weekend.

“No. I think we will be quick at Suzuꦚka. It’s not my problem what their worr🍰ies are,” Verstappen added.

Even in Mercedes’ period of dominance, Singapore tended to be a circuit where they struggled re൩lative to the opposition - even in 2014 and 2015, when they won nearly every race.

Perhaps it’s similar for Red Bull given tꦡhe unique natur🎃e 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 i🐼mpact.

Why McLaren should be second-best

McLaren should fancy their chances of 🍒being the second-best team at Suzuka.

High-speed corners are a key strength of this year’s McLaren, wᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ꧑⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚith Suzuka renowned for his fast esses. 

McLaren’s 𒆙latest upgrade package seems to have moved them closer to the front, particularly in low-s💟peed corners which continue to be a key weakness.

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lando Norris feels the new update is a step forward, alt♔hough the same inherent issues remain.

“So you're still complaining of the same things and same issues, it's just you're probably going a little bit quicker wh💜ile doing so,” Norris said in Singapore.

ꦍ“And for sure it had taken a good step forward, which is reassuring for here and the rest of the season. So yes, positiv🍷e from all of that.”

On paper, Suzuka should suit McLaren, particularly the first sector, while Ferrari have struggled at tracks with longer radius cornജers and maintaining the aero𒈔 balance through them.

Regardless, it should be anotheꦉr intriguing battle behin♛d Red Bull.

Aston Martin’s Stroll problem

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lance Stroll’s nightmare se🔥ason conꦛtinued in Singapore with an amateur shunt at the end of Q1.

Stroll was 0.3s down on 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Valtteri Bottas, who was 15th at the time the Canadian crossed the second sector splജi🔯t - 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 violent f🍌ashion.

Stroll was unable to take part in the race after🐻 Aston Martin revealed he was still “so♛re” after the crash.

Teammate 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fernando Alonso endured a difficult afternoon as Aston Martin failed✤ to score points for the firstಞ time this year.

It means they’ve fallen even further behind Mercedes and Fe🎐rrari, while McLaren are fast approaching in the race for fourth.

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

While theജir form has 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 teamm🐼ate and is set to fall behind 🙈the Alpine drivers in the championship.

To make matters worse, team principal Mike Krack is coming up with new and unique ways to defend Stroll, c🍬laiming his crash in Q1 was clear evidence of his “commitment” to F1.

While Stroll’s F1 future is secure for now, surely patience among sections of the team is running o෴ut, particularly as his lack of form ♔could result in a lower championship finish and less prize money, and then potentially a smaller bonus for team staff.

Last chance for Lawson?

This weekend could be the last time we see 168澳洲5最新开奖结果: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5最新开奖结果:Daniel Ricciardo at Zandvoort.

The Kimi has been calm, assured and never over awed by the F1 experi🐈ence.

Lawson pic🌌ked up AlphaTauri’s best result of t🐬he season so far with ninth in Singapore.

But it seems his performances aren’t enough to tempt Helmut Marko and Red Bull into giviꦍng him a full-time drive for next year.

If the reports are to be believed, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Yuki Tsunoda’s new dea🍰l will be announced at Suzuka, while Ricciardo is likely to stay for 2024꧙.

Williams also have a seat available, and given 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Logan Sargeant’s underperformance, La🌠wson would be t🃏he perfect fit.