Red Bull employee backs 62-podium duo to beat Max Verstappen in Singapore Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen is looking to complete the set in Formula 1 by winning the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. At 26, Verstappen has won at every single circuit on the current F1 calendar, except Marina Bay.

But optimism levels don’t seem to be particularly high at Red Bull. That largely stems from the team’s unexpectedly woeful performance at this venue 12 months ago.

Singapore was the only race Red Bull failed to win, and the only race where Verstappen missed out on the podium. He suffered a Q2 exit before recovering to fifth as Christian Horner’s squad found their Kryptonite.

They will hope that the RB20 is better suited to the track than its all-conquering predecessor. But the team’s performance at Monaco – a comparably bumpy street circuit – doesn’t bode well.

Verstappen qualified and finished sixth in the principality, while Sergio Perez suffered a Q1 exit. Red Bull have been able to develop their car since but largely appear to have gone in the wrong direction.

The reigning world champion finished fifth in Baku last time out, and it would have been seventh without the late collision between Perez and Carlos Sainz. Verstappen upset some Red Bull staff with his complaints after qualifying.

Red Bull employee expects Charles Leclerc to win Singapore Grand Prix and beat Max Verstappen

Speaking on the RacingNews365 podcast, Red Bull simulator driver Rudy van Buren made his predictions for Sunday’s race. He doesn’t feel Verstappen will have enough to win.

Instead, he’s backed Charles Leclerc to repeat his Monaco triumph for Ferrari. Leclerc took a dominant pole position at Baku, another street circuit, before losing out to Oscar Piastri in the race.

Van Buren expects Lando Norris to benefit from team orders as McLaren prioritise his pursuit of Verstappen. If his prediction comes to pass, with Norris second and Verstappen third, the gap will only shrink to around 56 points.

Piastri is backed for fourth, with Perez rounding out the top five. Verstappen has only scored two podiums in seven races since his last win in Spain, and that tricky run may continue.

“Leclerc is going to win,” he said. “Norris will be second because Piastri has to let him pass. He will end up in the wringer, causing Verstappen [to finish] third. Piastri fourth, Checo fifth.”

Helmut Marko says Red Bull have already suffered ‘massive setback’ for Singapore Grand Prix

Red Bull won four of the first five races in 2024, scoring a one-two finish in three of them. But five months on, they’ve surrendered the lead of the constructors’ championship to McLaren.

Many have pointed to the departure of Adrian Newey as a possible explanation. While the designer won’t officially leave until next year, he hasn’t been involved with car development since April.

Helmut Marko feels Newey could have helped Red Bull trackside at the Azerbaijan GP. But it’s unclear if he’ll attend any more races before the season is out.

Looking ahead to Singapore, Marko says Red Bull have already suffered a ‘massive setback’. He indicated that there’s a lack of spare parts available after Perez’s crash, disrupting their planned testing programme.