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Toto Wolff\u2019s hopes that the latest FIA technical directive would cost Red Bull up to half a second in lap time have been dashed with Max Verstappen\u2019s predictions seemingly coming true instead.<\/p>\n
The Singapore Grand Prix marked the first race weekend after the latest FIA technical directive came into play with the sport\u2019s governing body clamping down on the flexibility of the front wings on the grid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This technical directive also happened to coincide with Red Bull\u2019s weakest race of the season. The Milton Keynes-based team had won all 14 races to date prior to Singapore and with some comfort too, but the reigning constructors’ champions were forced to settle for P5 and P8 finishes on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Mercedes team principal Wolff had previously given his hopes for the technical directive, stating: \u201cI don\u2019t know who is exploiting that to more [of a] degree, not a bigger degree than others. But if maybe a Red Bull is half a second slower or something, that would be nice, but I don\u2019t think it will be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive F1 news.<\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Toto Wolff makes Mick Schumacher promise as Mercedes driver ‘in talks’ to leave[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n Unfortunately for Wolff, while Red Bull were much slower than usual in Singapore, according to the Red Bull hierarchy, this had nothing to do with the technical directive with no parts of the RB19 affected by the FIA\u2019s latest instructions.<\/p>\n Helmut Marko confirmed that he had no fears when speaking to Auto, Motor und Sport about the rule change, stating: \u201cIt had been planned for a long time. It worked well in the simulator and promised more downforce.\u201d<\/p>\n Team principal Christian Horner doubled down on Marko\u2019s claims, adding: \u201cI know all of you would love to blame the TD but unfortunately, we can\u2019t even blame that because it\u2019s not changed a single component on our car.<\/p>\n More F1… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think circuit characteristics are different here. And I think that we just haven\u2019t optimised a car in the right window to extract the most number.\u201d<\/p>\n These claims are in line with Verstappen\u2019s expectations ahead of the weekend. When asked whether the front wing changes would affect his pace, he replied: \u201cI don\u2019t think it will. We never had any flexible front wing or whatever so I don\u2019t think it will hurt us.\u201d<\/p>\n While Red Bull and Verstappen were out of the conversation in Singapore, the championship leaders are expected to bounce back in Suzuka, which is a more traditional downforce circuit and the place where Verstappen clinched his second title last season.<\/p>\n
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