Carlos Sainz’s Aggressive Move Sparks Red Bull Drama Ahead of Singapore Grand Prix

Red Bull’s senior advisor Helmut Marko has heavily criticised Carlos Sainz following a dramatic late-race incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Marko described Sainz’s aggressive manoeuvre against Sergio Perez as “unnecessary” and blamed it for a series of misfortunes that followed for Red Bull.

Sainz seized an opportunity when Perez was locked in a battle with Charles Leclerc, passing Perez out of Turn 1. But, as he pursued Leclerc, Perez pulled alongside him, resulting in a collision that sent both drivers into the wall. Thankfully, both walked away unscathed. However, with just three laps to go, the incident drew Marko’s ire, as it disrupted Red Bull’s race.

“I think Sainz made quite an aggressive move,” Marko told Formu1a.uno. “It was unnecessary with three laps remaining. We suffered a lot of damage and lost significant points in the Constructors’ Championship.”

Red Bull’s Constructors’ Woes

The race ended under Virtual Safety Car conditions, costing Max Verstappen a chance to grab the fastest lap bonus point, which went to Lando Norris instead. This point deduction further tightened the Drivers’ Championship lead, reducing Verstappen’s margin to just 59 points. More significantly, McLaren’s Norris gained two spots to finish P4, while Perez dropped out of contention. As a result, McLaren took the top spot in the Constructors’ standings from Red Bull.

“With the fastest lap, we would have lost only one point to Norris, not three. It was like an avalanche,” Marko explained, referring to the cascading consequences of Sainz’s move.

Singapore Grand Prix: The Next Test

As Red Bull prepares for the Singapore Grand Prix, a circuit that saw their only defeat in the 2023 season, the team is working to recover from the damage caused in Baku. Sergio Perez’s car was significantly damaged in the crash, and Red Bull now faces challenges in setting up his vehicle for the upcoming race.

“There’s no need to panic,” said Marko, though he admitted that Perez’s situation remains critical. “Checo’s car is heavily damaged, and we’ll have issues with the parts we have available and the right setup. We’ll see his real potential in Austin.”

The once-dominant Red Bull RB20 has faced a tough streak, with the team going winless in their last seven races. Despite starting the 2024 season as the benchmark in Formula 1, their dominance has faded, adding pressure as the competition heats up.

Red Bull Cancels Special Livery Plan

Adding to their woes, Red Bull has had to scrap plans to run a special livery for the Singapore and Austin Grand Prix rounds. The team’s statement cited concerns over the additional weight added by the bespoke designs, which would have negatively affected the performance of the RB20.

“When we came to the testing phase of the REBL CUSTMS designs, we found the paint added unforeseen weight to the bodywork,” the team explained. “Any additional weight compromises performance, so we have decided not to run the liveries.”

Meanwhile, Red Bull’s junior team, VCARB, will debut a special denim-inspired livery in Singapore, designed by their apparel partner HUGO. Despite the setbacks, Red Bull remains focused on reclaiming their winning form as the season continues.

Conclusion

As Formula 1 moves towards the highly anticipated Singapore Grand Prix, Red Bull faces mounting challenges, both on and off the track. With Carlos Sainz’s aggressive move triggering a cascade of consequences, and with car setup issues looming, the team will be hoping to turn their fortunes around. All eyes are now on how they will fare in Singapore and whether they can recapture their early-season dominance.