After Liam Lawson Ruins Max Verstappen’s Qualifying, Yuki Tsunoda Reported to Make It Worse

Throughout the season, Red Bull hasn’t been as fierce in the Practice sessions but covers up for it in Qualifying and the race. But not this time. The Singapore Grand Prix weekend started as an absolute horror show for both RB drivers and it has continued that way. Their new floor has proven to be a curse for them. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, both have been knocked out in Q2 at the Marina Bay Circuit. And that too at the hands of AlphaTauri rookie Liam Lawson. Plus, Yuki Tsunoda is about to pile onto the Dutchman’s unanticipated woes.

Nothing about how Max Verstappen has been performing this weekend is a true indicator of how the rest of their season has been. Even after 10 consecutive wins, the Dutchman was unsure about excelling at Singapore. And his worst fears have come true. Not just his, Red Bull’s worst fears have come true. Sergio Perez, on his last flying lap in Q2, spun around, knocking him out in P13, 1.4 tenths short of qualifying for Q3.

Furthermore, Verstappen, on his flying lap behind, could only improve to P10. But only provisionally before Liam Lawson came flying by to eliminate him and take his place in P10. The reigning World Champion lost out to a rookie who’s only driven 2 races in and that too by 7 thousandths of a second. “I don’t know if you saw that. But that was f**ing shocking. absolutely shocking experience,” Verstappen exclaimed on the team radio.

But the miseries don’t stop here. Verstappen could also be on the receiving end of a grid penalty for impeding Yuki Tsunoda on his flying lap earlier in Q2. Not just that, there are a total of 3 occasions where he has impeded other drivers. Once for impeding Tsunoda at Turns 3 and 4. The 2nd for impeding Logan Sargeant at Turn 17-18. And the last one for impeding several other cars at the pit lane exit.

UPDATE: Max Verstappen has been reprimanded (his 2nd of the 2023 season) for impeding Yuki Tsunoda, with Red Bull being fined 5000 Euros. No further action has been taken against him for impeding Logan Sargeant. The Stewards haven’t given a grid penalty and Verstappen will begin the race in P11.

Read More: “What the F**k Is This?”: Verstappen’s Profanity-Filled Outburst at Red Bull Legitimizes Hamilton’s Prophecy

Let us have a look at what Verstappen and his Team Principal had to say after this unacceptable showing.

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen defeatedly reflect on Q2 elimination at the Singapore GP F1 Qualifying

Sergio Perez getting eliminated before Q3 had become a routine for a good period in the 1st half of 2023. But Max Verstappen getting eliminated in Q2 is something no one has seen this year. And neither did he expect such an unpleasant outcome. “I knew it was always going to be tough to put it on pole but this, I didn’t expect,” said the Dutchman post-qualifying.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner was more dumbfounded than Verstappen. He said, “It’s confusing. The car is just not responding to changes we’ve made. We’ve tried many different things with the tires, but they don’t seem to be working. That time deficit could be explained by not getting the tire into the window.”

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Hands down, this has been the worst Qualifying session for the Milton-Keynes outfit in 2023. But we all know how supreme the RB19 is when it comes to race pace. Both drivers have proved that they have what it takes to climb the steepest of mountains. So, the RB camp will be worried but only for so much time.