Red Bull does indeed have a target on their backs. They’ve been suspiciously dominant. However, the suspicions soon clear up once you realize what a brilliant job they’ve done since the 2022 regulation reset. That fact, however, is a bitter pill to swallow for their rivals. Hence, on the eve of the Singapore GP, when the FIA introduced a technical directive to clamp down on ‘flexi bodywork’, everyone acted like they’d nailed Jack the Ripper as the Bulls faltered. This irked Max Verstappen to no small degree.
The Dutch lion has been very possessive about his and his team’s success this year. And in the aftermath of the dismal Singapore GP that saw his historic run of wins come to a crashing end, the 2z champion lashed out at the accusers. He said, “Honestly, we had a bad weekend. Then people start saying it’s all because of the technical directive, but I think they can go suck on an egg.” Was Verstappen so angry because the world caught him with his pants down, or was he miffed at being misunderstood and doubted once again?
Max Verstappen absolves himself of Singapore GP guilt
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All eyes were on Verstappen and Red Bull at the 2023 Japanese GP. If they stuttered like they did at the Marina Bay Circuit, the witch-hunt could finally be over. Unfortunately for the skeptics, Verstappen was in the mood to dominate once again.
After an effortlessly dominant win at the Suzuka International Race Course, Verstappen finally silenced his critics. Ex-Ferrari manager Peter Windsor gave it his stamp of authority in his post-race review on YouTube.
He said, “So, Max [Verstappen] and Red Bull did bounce back from the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. It wasn’t that FIA technical directive after all, surprise, surprise!”
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Winning empathically wasn’t enough. After the race, Verstappen was vindictive enough to rub salt in the wounds of his accusers.
Verstappen embarrasses rivals with humiliating reality check
The way Verstappen has driven this year, he could’ve won it all for himself and the Bulls even if the team fielded only one car. And while the world will credit it to his racing genius, the Dutch lion sacrificed his glory to brutally humiliate the competition.
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MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS AT SUZUKA 🤩#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/LRN97ums7H
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 24, 2023
After the race, Verstappen took a stinging jab at his rivals. He said, “It’s been a really good weekend but I’ve had some other weekends I think also where the car has been really nice to drive. I mean, sometimes it’s not only your car but it also depends on the competition of course, how big of a gap it is.”
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