© Getty ImagesRace Changing Moments Singapore Grand Prix 2023The Team’s highs and lows from the Marina Bay Circuit
Allgoodthingsmustcometoanend,anditwastheSingaporeGrandPrixthatstoodinthewayoftheTeam’srunof15winsinarow,andMax’s10-winstreak,extendingfurther.Itwasstillanexcitingracewithplentyofupsanddownsforeveryone,solet’srelivewhatmadeMarinaBaytheracethatitwas.
It’s not unusual for a team to come unstuck in Singapore, the conditions there are always tricky, and the signs that this was going to happen to the Team began in Free Practice, but were made apparent in qualifying.
In all the FP sessions, Max and Checo were complaining that their RB19s were struggling for rear grip. There was hope that something could be done in time for qualifying, but we were unable to solve the issue and the Bulls had to go all out to see how high they could climb the timesheet.
There was a delay between Q1 and Q2 due to Lance Stroll’s high-speed crash at the end of Q1. Thankfully he was okay and able to get straight out of the car, and with the barriers needing some major repairs, the Bulls had some more time to prepare for the second session. Heading out for Q2, both Max and Checo were still struggling for grip as they put in their first push lap times and found themselves in P10 and P13. Even with fresh tyres on for their final runs neither driver were unable to improve and at the final moment Max was bumped to P11 by Liam Lawson.
Max began the race on hard tyres and instantly started making progress through the pack. It was looking good, starting both the Bulls on the white-striped tyres as all the others ahead were on mediums. However, on lap 20, Logan Sargeant crashed causing debris from his Williams to scatter across the track. The Safety Car was deployed and as all the front runners entered the pits, the Team decided to keep Max and Checo out on their hard tyres. This move saw Max move up to second place behind Carlos Sainz, and Checo up to P4.
When the Safety Car returned to the pits the Bulls struggled to get the heat back in their tyres and the cars around them, on fresh rubber, were able to push on. Max dropped to P6 and Checo fell to P10 as others shot past them, but the race was far from over.
Checo Putting In The Laps On The Alternative Strategy© Getty Images
At the end of lap 40 Checo came into the pits for a set of mediums with Max came in for the same tyres a lap later. Although they came out in P18 and P15 respectively, it was game on and time for the Bulls to charge.
Max went on a fantastic run with his fresh rubber underneath him. He started getting ahead of the back markers and by lap 48 he was in the points in P10 after taking Guanyu Zhou. He then made quick work of Niko Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly, and with four laps remaining he was 16 seconds behind Charles Leclerc who was running in P5. The Team crunched the numbers and there was a chance Max could take Leclerc as he was more than three seconds a lap faster than the Ferrari. He was close to catching Leclerc on lap 62 of 62 when the yellow flags were waved due to George Russell crashing on the last lap. So Max was able to get P5, but he unable to get ahead of Leclerc.
Flying Through The Field© Getty Images
Checo went on a similar run behind his teammate. He was able to climb from P18 to P8 at the chequered flag, making quick work of plenty of drivers. It was a testament to the mentality of the drivers who pushed all the way to the end and recover a hatful of points after what was a terrible start to the weekend.
