Why the Red Bull camp are already ‘really worrying’ about the Singapore Grand Prix

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The Singapore Grand Prix is unlikely to be a turning point in the 2024 Formula 1 season, but stranger things have happened in one of the most exciting campaigns the sport has seen for some time.

With seven different race winners and a change in the lead of the Constructors’ Championship during the final third of the year, anything could happen between now and the chequered flag flying in Abu Dhabi.

Red Bull headed into the start of the season as the clear favourites with Max Verstappen seemingly nailed on to win a fourth straight title.

That may still happen considering he could give up two wins to nearest rival Lando Norris and still be leading the championship.

However, the advantage Christian Horner’s team had at the opening race in Bahrain has not just disappeared but has been overturned by McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Speaking on the F1 Strategy Report Podcast, journalist Chris Medland explained what he’s been hearing from inside the Red Bull camp.

The race in Azerbaijan didn’t go to plan for Red Bull with Verstappen struggling with his set-up and Sergio Perez’s race brought to an end just before he could claim his first podium since China.

How the Red Bull camp are feeling about the Singapore Grand Prix

Last season Red Bull were unstoppable but came unstuck on the streets of Singapore.

Verstappen was famously knocked out of qualifying by AlphaTauri stand-in Liam Lawson and while he managed to recover to 5^th, it was a shock not to see the Dutchman on the podium.

The 26-year-old missing out on a top-three finish is no longer a surprise and talking about Verstappen’s disappointing race in Baku, Medland said: “For him to fade to where he faded with Norris coming through the field, I think should have been an even bigger alarm bell that when we say that there was some progress there from Red Bull, and that progress has Max Verstappen, OK, in that race he’s classified 5^th but realistically he’s finishing 7^th in that race.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Singapore Grand Prix moments from Crashgate to Ferrari vs Max Verstappen

“I think it’s actually really worrying. Now, I’m already in Singapore and the talk from the Red Bull camp before the race in Baku is we have to capitalise here where we’re fairly competitive because in Singapore we’ll be nowhere.

“I will honestly reserve judgment on that because of the way this season’s gone. Every time you think you know what you’re going to get from a team somewhere you just don’t it.

“The number of teams including Red Bull who have said, oh, we thought we were going to get something different here, there seems to be a focus on an upgrade for Austin that could stem the flow, that could really turn things around.”

Max Verstappen backed to be beaten in Singapore by two F1 rivals

It’s unlikely that Red Bull are as poor at the Marina Bay Street Circuit as they were last year even if the car is comparatively worse than its rivals.

Red Bull made fundamental mistakes last season and Adrian Newey admits the famously got their Singapore set-up wrong.

Verstappen has now gone eight races without a Grand Prix victory and even if Red Bull are better prepared this season, his chances of winning still seem low.

Red Bull sim driver Rudy van Buren believes Charles Leclerc and Norris will both beat Verstappen on Sunday.

That would see the Dutchman’s lead at the Drivers’ Championship shrink once again but at the current race Norris is making up points, he won’t quite overturn the deficit.