F1 News: Max Verstappen Qualifying - Bad To Worse As He Faces Three Penalties
Max Verstappen faced double trouble post-qualifying at the Singapore GP, culminating in three potential penalties. The reigning champ was under scrutiny for impeding and coming to a stop unnecessarily in the pit lane.
Key Takeaways
- Verstappen is under investigation for three separate incidents: staying stationary unnecessarily in the pit lane and potentially impeding Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant.
- Despite leading the championship, Red Bull seems to be struggling with the RB19's performance at the Marina Bay Circuit.
- Any penalties could result in a significant drop in Verstappen’s starting position, jeopardizing his dominant winning streak, especially on Singapore's challenging street circuit.
During the recent Singapore GP qualifying, Max Verstappen found himself in a tight spot. The championship leader raised eyebrows by sitting stationary at the end of the pit lane waiting for clean air, despite himself not being hindered.
While the Dutchman's intention might have been to create a suitable gap for his qualifying lap, the stationary position was not deemed the right approach.
But Verstappen's woes didn’t end there. He was also implicated in a separate incident, seemingly impeding Yuki Tsunoda during the start of Q2. This has caught the FIA's attention, and an investigation into the matter has been launched. On top of this, there's potentially a third for impeding Williams' Logan Sargeant.
This season has seen Red Bull Racing at the forefront, but at the Marina Bay Circuit, they're facing stiff competition. The RB19 appears to struggle on this track, with teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, and the upgraded McLaren under Lando Norris showing comparable, if not superior, speed.
Verstappen, therefore, is facing a P11 start with his teammate two places behind him. Further compounding this are the three potential penalties, which could push him even lower.
Unfortunately, this track offers very few chances to overtake. Given these setbacks, Verstappen’s, and Red Bull's impressive winning streak this season could likely come to an end.