Red Bull explains why Verstappen’s Singapore qualification ended early

This decision, which Verstappen didn’t accept quite so calmly on the radio, left him in 8th place at the start of tomorrow’s (Sunday, October 2nd, 3 p.m.) race in Marina Bay, the 17th round of this year’s Formula 1, almost in vain his slim chances of securing his second championship of the year tomorrow.

Milton Keynes’ team said they called him into the pits early because if the Dutchman continued he would not have enough fuel to complete the next lap, return to the pits and also the one required by the FIA -Litre sample of each car to be delivered at the end of the qualification. This would force Max to be the last to start the race from the pits.

As it later turned out, Verstappen was on his sixth straight lap when he was forced to abandon his fast lap and return to the pits after exiting the RBR garage with five laps of petrol.

As the team’s decision was explained to him by his engineer, Ginpiero Lambiace, a flood of shouts and abuse from the champion could be heard over the radio as Charles Leclerc secured his 9th pole position of the year.

Team Manager Christian Horner explained: “I think it was a misjudgment on our part. We fueled the car for five laps and because the track improved so quickly we got an extra lap. So it was in an ideal position.

But of course a fuel sample is necessary, so when he’s two and a half seconds faster than his last lap, it’s the hardest decision in the world. Anyone who fails to give a fuel sample at the end starts the race from the pits. said the Brit.

And he concluded: “But the car showed great speed, and that of the Czech [Πέρεζ] We saw phenomenal performance. We made it a bit difficult for ourselves with eighth place on the grid [του Φερστάπεν] but we will give everything and overtaking is possible with these cars.”