{"id":31281,"date":"2023-09-16T13:31:41","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T12:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/?p=31281"},"modified":"2023-09-16T13:31:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T12:31:44","slug":"red-bull-and-max-verstappen-accused-of-playing-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/red-bull-and-max-verstappen-accused-of-playing-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Bull and Max Verstappen accused of ‘playing games’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick wonders whether Red Bull are playing games at the Singapore Grand Prix, following a surprisingly poor opening day for the Milton Keynes-based team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen ended Friday in seventh and eighth, in what was a day full of complaints from both drivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither driver was happy with the rear end of the RB19, to the extent that Perez admitted over the team radio that he lacked confidence when braking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given how rare bad days have been for Red Bull this season, the other teams aren’t sure whether the Austrians woes are genuine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With Red Bull having won every race this season that’s understandable, with even Patrick pondering whether games are “getting played” by the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not always buying every time that a team has a bad day, or even a session,\u201d Patrick told Sky Sports F1. \u201cBecause sometimes it just all of a sudden turns the other direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s probably games getting played, and then sometimes you just miss it. So yeah, not really counting them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut they did come in saying it would probably be a little bit more of a struggle, and so far that\u2019s been true\u2026it\u2019s only Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This weekend is a big one for Red Bull, with the outfit being just eight wins away from a perfect campaign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being seven-tenths behind pacesetter Carlos Sainz certainly isn’t ideal though, leaving Red Bull with significant work to do ahead of qualifying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Red Bull want to extend their winning streak to 16 races, then they’ll need to unlock some more performance from their car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verstappen also needs to find some pace, given that he was even behind his team-mate following Free Practice 2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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$149 million lawsuit against #Williams<\/a> dismissed under bizarre circumstances https:\/\/t.co\/tz3QF4hEnD<\/a><\/p>— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) September 15, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>