Rewind to the 2017 Singapore GP. Sebastian Vettel is on pole. Max Verstappen is right alongside him in second. The five lights go out. Verstappen gets a mega start. In the blink of an eye, he’s the filling in a Ferrari sandwich—between Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. Just as the thought of the race lead might’ve come to him, it was just as quickly taken away. What could’ve been him leading the pack after Turn 1 ended with him not making the corner. His race was over even before it started. Even though the crash protagonists came out unscathed, it wasn’t a pretty sight to witness. Much to Verstappen’s dismay, he’s been dealt a repeat prophecy.

Last time out, at the Italian GP, Verstappen made history. He became the first driver in history to win 10 races in a row. As much as that proves how dominant Red Bull has been this season, it also points to Verstappen’s sheer talent. Considering his run of form, self-doubt should be the last thing on his mind. But the brain works in mysterious ways.

Will the Singapore GP break Max Verstappen & Co.’s streak?

The Italian GP capped off F1’s 2023 European leg. For the first time, one team won every race leading up to F1’s Asian tour—Red Bull. Despite the RB19’s efficiency in every track this year, Verstappen had doubts about Singapore. The Dutchman discussed his Singapore prospects in the F1 Nation Podcast, saying, “A bit more difficult for us. But let’s see. We’ll do our best. We will try to go there and win again, but it’s not going to be the strongest weekend for us.”

Verstappen was referring to the RB19’s behavior in tracks like the Marina Bay Circuit—how that’ll be a hindrance. Greg James, co-host of The Fast And The Curious Podcast, had a different hypothesis. James said, “I think Max is due a non-serious crash. He’ll be absolutely fine, and so will everyone else around him. I think something might happen where he’s taken out.” This entire season, Verstappen hasn’t had a single race-ending incident. Given the difficulty level of the circuit, James hopes for a 2017-esque incident for the reigning champion.

“I think there will be a McLaren on the podium. I think they’ll be a Merc. And it might just be George. So we’ll go for a McLaren, a Mercedes, and a Ferrari [on the podium],” concluded James.

Read More: Why Is Max Verstappen Saying He Cannot Win the 2023 Singapore GP?

The thought of any team other than Red Bull winning a race this season seems almost absurd. But what slightly legitimizes this prediction is that James isn’t the only one who thinks Verstappen will have a tougher weekend than usual. 

Red Bull isn’t too optimistic about its Singapore outing

The RB19 has proved superior at every track so far. In light of that, the Marina Bay Circuit shouldn’t cause too much concern, right? The 19-corner, 5-kilometer circuit is like a tougher version of Monaco. The twisty layout and extreme temperatures make for a physical and mental battle for drivers. A circuit that demands high-downforce settings, it’s become well-known that the RB19 isn’t suited to those settings. 

Speaking after the Italian GP, Christian Horner echoed Verstappen’s comments. He said,  “It’s a completely different circuit, street circuit. Other cars will be competitive there for sure. For sure, it will be a big challenge.” Technical Director Pierre Wache explained the RB19’s weakness: “I think in the high downforce case, and especially very high downforce like Budapest and Monaco, I think it’s where our weaknesses appear.”

Can Max Verstappen and Red Bull continue their streak? Or will Greg James’ prophecy come true?

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