Did the **Red Bull** Reign Supreme in Singapore? Hadjar Says NO!
Forget what you *thought* you knew about **Max Verstappen**'s dominant **Singapore Grand Prix** victory. **Red Bull** driver **Isack Hadjar** has just ignited a fiery debate, asserting that the reigning champion's triumph was a masterclass in pure driving skill, rather than an overwhelming advantage from his **Red Bull** machinery. In a stunning claim, Hadjar even suggested **Verstappen** would have won by an *even larger margin* had he been piloting a **Ferrari**!
Key Takeaways from Hadjar's Bold Claim
- Red Bull Not Fastest: **Isack Hadjar** believes the **Red Bull** wasn't the quickest car at the **Singapore Grand Prix**.
- Verstappen's Skill Supreme: The win was attributed solely to **Max Verstappen**'s exceptional talent and ability to maximize every opportunity.
- Ferrari Advantage? Hadjar controversially suggested **Verstappen** would have won by a greater margin in a **Ferrari**.
- Piastri Disagrees: **McLaren**'s **Oscar Piastri** sees the **Red Bull** as the "most consistently quick car" after recent upgrades.
The **Verstappen** Factor: Skill Over Chassis?
Speaking ahead of the **United States Grand Prix**, Hadjar didn't mince words. While acknowledging **Verstappen**'s back-to-back wins, including a dominant performance in Malaysia, he was quick to downplay the notion that **Red Bull** now possesses the grid's fastest car, especially concerning the challenging **Marina Bay Street Circuit**.
"No, because I think the car is still very hard to drive. In Malaysia, it was dominant, but I don't think in Singapore it was the fastest car," Hadjar declared. When pressed on how **Verstappen** managed a **7.3-second victory** over **Charles Leclerc**'s **Ferrari**, Hadjar doubled down on his bold assessment: "I think if you put Max in the Ferrari, he would have won the race with more margin. So that’s my opinion."
According to Hadjar, **Verstappen**'s brilliance wasn't about relying on superior machinery. He meticulously maximized every advantage, from qualifying to race strategy. "He qualified on pole by half a tenth. Ferrari didn’t have new tyres in the race, not on the soft, so this has an effect as well," Hadjar explained. "He put all the chances on his side, he made the difference in Q3 and that was enough."
A McLaren Driver Weighs In: The **Red Bull** Advantage is Real
Interestingly, **Isack Hadjar**'s strong take was countered by **McLaren**'s rising star, **Oscar Piastri**, who shared the same press conference. Piastri offered a different perspective, highlighting the impact of **Red Bull**'s upgrades introduced at the **Azerbaijan Grand Prix**. He described these enhancements as "very strong" and acknowledged that **Red Bull** has since become "the most consistently quick car" across recent races.
This divergence in opinion sets the stage for an intriguing end to the season, as teams continue to push for performance gains and drivers battle for every tenth.
Championship Stakes: A Tightly Contested Season
With just six rounds remaining in the championship, the battle is heating up. **Red Bull** currently sits fourth in the constructors' standings, trailing **McLaren** by seven points in third. Meanwhile, **Max Verstappen** is also fourth in the drivers' standings with **221 points**, closing in on **Lewis Hamilton** who holds third with **229 points**. **Isack Hadjar** himself is eighth with **97 points**, demonstrating the fierce competition across the entire grid.
