The Crimson Bull driver knew that Sunday can be a battle after he certified solely eleventh on the grid, insisting afterwards that he could “forget” challenging for victory.
Within the race he might solely climb to fifth after a method gamble that noticed him begin on the onerous tyres did not repay, and a safety car emerged at just the wrong time.
“I knew that today would come so for me it’s completely nice,” he stated after the flag.
He added: “The whole lot must be good. Everyone seems to be at all times saying, ‘Ah look how dominant they’re and look how simple it’s’.
“However it’s by no means simple, and plenty of particulars that we have to get proper and this weekend clearly we didn’t get a number of issues proper after which you’re on the again foot.”
Crimson Bull had received 14 races in a row previous to Singapore, plus the ultimate occasion of the 2022 season, breaking the report for many consecutive wins by a staff that had been held by McLaren since 1988.
Nevertheless, staff principal Christian Horner insisted that he had no regrets concerning the streak ending, and with it the potential for profitable each race within the 2023 season.
“We by no means anticipated it,” he stated when requested about lacking a clear sweep of the season.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
“I imply, there’s nonetheless eight races to go! You guys have been asking me since just about Jeddah, and to have gotten via 15 races is past our wildest creativeness.
“For Max to have received 10 in a row is madness. Final time a driver did that was Sebastian [Vettel] in one in all our vehicles.
“Once more, so extremely proud to have the primary and the second most winningest drivers in F1. Whereas statistics apparently do not matter, they’re ones that as a staff we’re extremely happy with.
“And to have gotten this far, to have damaged the report [held by McLaren] since 1988, exhibits simply how onerous it’s to attain the sort of supremacy that we have achieved this 12 months. And that is testimony to everyone doing and enjoying their half.”
Horner made it clear that profitable so persistently isn’t as simple because it appears to be like.
“To win 15 in a row is madness when you think about the variance of circuits that we have come throughout, the circumstances, etcetera,” he stated.
“It’s the first time since I believe 2018 that we weren’t in Q3 yesterday, so it has been a hell of a run for the staff that we at all times knew was going to return to a cease sooner or later.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB19
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
“And it has been an unbelievable 12 months, one which we’re all very happy with. And hopefully we might be again up on the sharp finish subsequent weekend.”
Concerning Verstappen’s present mindset he stated: “He is received 10 races in a row. He is main the world championship by nearly double the factors of anyone else.
“So he is acquired loads of causes to be proud of life in the meanwhile, and he’s clear sufficient on the larger image. He is aware of this was an anomaly, and hopefully we might be aggressive once more subsequent weekend.”
Further reporting by Jonathan Noble