Max Verstappen is targeting another victory at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix as Red Bull look to maintain their improved form. However, the Dutchman is staying realistic about his chances at Marina Bay, where he has yet to claim a race win.
Key Highlights
- Verstappen eyes Singapore breakthrough: The Dutchman is aiming for his first win at Marina Bay after three previous P2 finishes.
- Red Bull remain cautious: Verstappen says the team must build on its Malaysia victory without assuming wins will follow.
- Hadjar reviews battery issue: The Frenchman is continuing to investigate the problem that dropped him to P5 in Malaysia.
- Red Bull Ford make history: The Malaysia victory marked an early milestone for Red Bull Ford Powertrains, which secured its first F1 race win.
Verstappen Targets Long-Awaited Singapore GP Victory
Verstappen is hoping to carry his winning momentum into the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix, but he knows another victory is far from guaranteed. After a difficult start to the season, the Red Bull driver claimed his first win of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, beating Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
However, Verstappen expects a tough challenge at Marina Bay, where Red Bull have yet to deliver him a Singapore GP win. His best results at the circuit are three second-place finishes in 2018, 2024 and 2025.
“We're going to try, that's for sure. It's always complicated on a street circuit, a lot of things have to come together,” Verstappen said.
He added that Singapore had not traditionally suited Red Bull’s car, although he hopes this year will bring an improvement. With rivals also competitive on street circuits, he stressed that the team cannot take anything for granted.
Red Bull Focus on Building Malaysia Momentum
With seven rounds remaining in the 2026 season, Verstappen is keeping his expectations realistic. Rather than setting a specific target for Singapore, he wants Red Bull to remain in contention for another race win before turning its attention to 2027.
The four-time world champion acknowledged that the Malaysia breakthrough was an important step, but warned that the team must continue working rather than expect the same results every weekend. Red Bull’s victory could have been even more impressive with a double podium, but Isack Hadjar’s late battery issue dropped him to fifth after he had been in contention for a stronger finish.
Hadjar Investigates Malaysia Battery Problem
Hadjar said the team was still analysing the issue but did not expect it to affect its preparations for Singapore. Despite focusing on the next race, he wants a clear understanding of what went wrong in Malaysia. The Frenchman’s performance was nevertheless encouraging, particularly as he helped Red Bull celebrate a landmark victory for its Ford-backed power unit just two races after returning from injury.
Hadjar explained that Red Bull had initially struggled to match Mercedes, with the gap widening after the season-opening race in Melbourne. The team gradually improved before reaching a plateau during the European stretch of the calendar.
A final upgrade then helped bring Red Bull back into winning contention, alongside Verstappen’s ability behind the wheel. Hadjar also praised the achievement of Red Bull Ford Powertrains, noting how quickly the programme had secured an F1 race victory after beginning its journey.
As Red Bull head to Singapore, the challenge will be to prove that its Malaysia breakthrough can translate into sustained competitiveness at another demanding street circuit.
