Red Bull Insider Concedes Max Verstappen Benefited From Good Fortune
Max Verstappen claimed victory at both the Malaysian and Singapore Grands Prix thanks in large part to a significant dose of good fortune rather than pure car superiority, according to an anonymous Red Bull Racing team member, as gp33.nl reported on October 23, 2026, that the four-time Formula 1 world champion actually should not have won the race in Singapore based on the team’s data, because Ferrari held the stronger package on the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
The disclosures surfaced during a discussion on the BBC podcast Chequered Flag, hosted by former F1TV presenter Rosanna Tennant. Tennant revealed that a team insider admitted Red Bull caught breaks during the recent stretch of races. At the same time, the source emphasized that Verstappen still deserved the wins because he consistently squeezes performance out of the RB22 that exceeds its baseline speed. The Limburger has made perhaps only one or two mistakes all year—such as his crash in Zandvoort—and has been untouchable for the rest of the season.
Data Points to Missed Opportunities for Ferrari in Singapore
Jolyon Palmer, a former F1 driver and current analyst for F1TV, analyzed the insider claims on the BBC podcast by pointing directly to Ferrari’s performance in Singapore. Palmer stated that data from the race weekend indicated Ferrari possessed the faster car and should have secured the victory.
According to Palmer, Ferrari left the door open by underperforming during the weekend, allowing Verstappen and Red Bull to capitalize. Sector times gathered from Marina Bay suggested both Ferrari entries could have finished ahead of Verstappen. However, handling difficulties and overheating tires slowed the Italian team’s progress, leaving Red Bull in position to execute a flawless weekend when rivals stumbled.
Internal Disagreements Over Car Comparisons
The question of whether Ferrari truly fielded a superior car has generated debate within the paddock. Isack Hadjar, a Red Bull driver, sparked discussion earlier by asserting that Verstappen would have secured an even larger margin of victory had he been driving the Ferrari SF-26 in Singapore.
That assessment drew immediate pushback from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Verstappen himself. Both drivers maintained that a direct performance comparison between the Red Bull RB22 and the Ferrari machine remains practically impossible. Despite the driver disagreement, the anonymous Red Bull team insider shared Hadjar’s view that Ferrari missed a prime opportunity to take the win.
Baku Upgrade Helps Verstappen Win in Malaysia and Singapore
Verstappen and Red Bull experienced a disappointing start to the season, falling behind the competition from Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari. After continuing to work hard, the team introduced an upgrade in Baku that appeared to work, allowing Verstappen to win in Malaysia and Singapore while the competition began to grow concerned.
When Max Verstappen Won and Who Revealed Insider Comments?
When did Max Verstappen win the races in Malaysia and Singapore?
The source reports did not specify the exact calendar dates for the Malaysian and Singapore Grands Prix, only noting them as the two most recent rounds preceding the October 23, 2026 report by gp33.nl.
Who revealed the Red Bull insider’s comments to the public?
Rosanna Tennant, a former F1TV presenter and current member of the BBC team, shared the insider’s remarks during an episode of the BBC podcast Chequered Flag.
What specific car issues hampered Ferrari at Marina Bay?
According to Jolyon Palmer’s analysis of the race data, the Ferrari cars were difficult to drive and suffered from severe tire overheating during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
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