Red Bull Racing arrives in Japan after a challenging weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix, which marked their toughest outing of the season. The winning streak that had propelled them to the top came to a halt in the Lion City.
Throughout the Singapore race weekend, both Verstappen and his teammate, Sergio Perez, grappled with the balance of the RB19. However, despite their recent struggles, the consensus within the F1 paddock suggests that the reigning constructor champions are poised to bounce back at Suzuka, a track they have historically dominated.
On the other side of the equation, Lewis Hamilton is seeking to maintain his momentum after securing his fifth podium finish of the campaign in Singapore. This achievement propelled him ten points clear of Fernando Alonso in the battle for third place in the Drivers’ Championship.
Hamilton, sharing his thoughts on the prospects of challenging Red Bull in Japan this weekend, remarked, “I would think that if they are not 30 seconds ahead like they have done in the past.” He acknowledged Red Bull’s difficult weekend in Singapore but expressed confidence in their car’s potential at Suzuka.
“They have been phenomenal all year long with pace at pretty much every circuit, and it is going to be great to watch that car in general,” Hamilton continued. “Normally, when we come here, it’s so beautiful to watch the laps that they do because the team as a whole and the drivers do an amazing job with the package they have. I hope we can be closer, and I hope they are not as fast as the 30-second gap.”
In this high-stakes battle for supremacy on the Japanese tarmac, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown between Mercedes and Red Bull, with Lewis Hamilton eagerly awaiting the RB19’s performance at Suzuka.