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Verstappen's Winning Run in F1 is in Doubt after Qualifying 11th in Singapore

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 16, 2023. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 16, 2023. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)
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Verstappen's Winning Run in F1 is in Doubt after Qualifying 11th in Singapore

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 16, 2023. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 16, 2023. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)

Max Verstappen's historic run of 10 Formula One wins in a row looks set to end after he qualified down in 11th place on Saturday for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz Jr. took pole for the race on Sunday ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc as Verstappen's Red Bull team had its worst qualifying results of the season, The Associated Press reported.

Verstappen, the runaway championship leader, was eliminated by .007 seconds in the second session by rookie Liam Lawson of sister team AlphaTauri.

Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez was 13th after a spin. The two drivers have won every race this season between them.

Verstappen told his team over the radio that it was an “absolutely shocking experience.”

There could be worse to come for him. The Dutch driver is under investigation for two incidents in which he appeared to impede others.
Verstappen stopped at the exit of the pit lane in the first part of qualifying and held up AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda while driving slowly in the second.

Verstappen has won races this season from sixth on the grid in Belgium and ninth in Miami, but the Red Bull car performed better on those tracks than it has so far in Singapore. He and Perez complained that their cars felt unbalanced during practice.

The first qualifying session was red-flagged when Lance Stroll lost control of his Aston Martin and speared into the wall on the final corner. The Canadian was able to walk away and said he was unhurt.

The crash caused a lengthy delay as crews worked to clear away the debris and repair the barrier.

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Ricciardo Knew He Was Out before Singapore, Says RB Boss

RB's French principal Laurent Mekies attends a press conference after the practice session for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on October 18, 2024. (AFP)
RB's French principal Laurent Mekies attends a press conference after the practice session for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on October 18, 2024. (AFP)
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Ricciardo Knew He Was Out before Singapore, Says RB Boss

RB's French principal Laurent Mekies attends a press conference after the practice session for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on October 18, 2024. (AFP)
RB's French principal Laurent Mekies attends a press conference after the practice session for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on October 18, 2024. (AFP)

Daniel Ricciardo and his RB Formula One team knew before last month's Singapore Grand Prix that he was leaving and having to pretend otherwise was "not ideal", principal Laurent Mekies said on Friday.

The Australian spent much of that weekend awkwardly side-stepping questions about his unconfirmed departure and replacement by New Zealander Liam Lawson for this weekend's US Grand Prix.

Asked by reporters in Austin why 35-year-old Ricciardo had not been given a proper chance to say goodbye, Mekies said the eight-times race-winner's departure could have been handled better.

"It was frustrating, and yes, you're right, it was not ideal to go through the weekend in that way, first of all for him, on a professional and on a personal matter, and for the whole team around him," said the Frenchman.

"Yes, Daniel was aware. We did have discussions before the weekend. For many different reasons, we chose together to go into that weekend without announcing. And from that point onwards, we had to deal with it.

"It's a decision that, in hindsight, we may or may not do differently," he added.

Ricciardo's departure was announced on Sept. 26, four days after the Singapore race.

The Australian this week appeared in a photo on the Instagram account of friend and former motocross racer Adam Cianciarulo wearing a cap with the words "I'm retired. Having a good time IS my job" on it.

Mekies said the team and fans had still found a way to convey their affection for Ricciardo, one of Formula One's most popular drivers, who is famed for his light-hearted approach and smiling personality.

"I can hopefully say that the amount of love and empathy we felt through that weekend was something outstanding and something that shows that he's bigger than an F1 driver, he's bigger than F1," he added.