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Concern for Verstappen as the Dutchman encounters an unexpected problem
Max Verstappen has encountered an unexpected problem after the first day of running in Singapore and asked Red Bull Racing to look at the balance overnight. The Dutchman only managed to secure P15 in the second free practice, while Lando Norris recorded the fastest time.
Norris is trying to hunt down Verstappen in the World Championship. So far, the three-time World Champion has managed to limit the damage and keep the majority of his lead intact. Despite not winning since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, Verstappen still has a 59-point gap. But with more than a second difference to his rival in FP2, Verstappen might be concerned.
Verstappen described his day as "difficult." The 26-year-old explained that Red Bull had some work to do overnight. "Not having the grip that we would like. So we have a few things to look at," Verstappen told F1TV after the second session.
Verstappen encounters another problem in Singapore
Last season, Red Bull Racing failed to win in Singapore, the only event they failed to win during the entire 2023 Formula 1 season. The car didn't perform well on the streets partly due to the bumpy nature, but Verstappen reports this wasn't a major problem this weekend.
"It's less of a problem. To be honest, I was not really struggling with the bumps and the kerbs. Just general grip. So again, we have to look at the tradeoffs between the two," he added.
Verstappen was then asked about the community service penalty he received after swearing during the press conference in Singapore. He said he had "no words".
This article has been created in collaboration with Sandy van Wijngaarden