Max Verstappen has dismissed attempts to compare Red Bull with Ferrari following the Singapore Grand Prix, despite acknowledging that the SF-26 showed considerable speed around Marina Bay. The Dutchman was drawn into the discussion after comments from teammate Isack Hadjar, but made clear that he saw little value in turning the subject into a wider dispute.
The debate centred on Ferrari’s competitiveness in Singapore and whether Verstappen might have enjoyed an even greater advantage in the Italian car. While the Red Bull driver recognised the pace shown by the Scuderia, he argued that judging the true potential of a car he has never driven is ultimately impossible.
Max Verstappen rejects Ferrari comparison sparked by Isack Hadjar
The discussion began with a remark from Isack Hadjar, who suggested that Verstappen could have won by an even larger margin had he been driving a Ferrari in Singapore. Charles Leclerc disagreed with that assessment and rejected the idea as nonsensical.
When Verstappen was subsequently asked by reporters, including F1inGenerale, to assess the SF-26 and Ferrari’s prospects of reproducing its Singapore competitiveness, he played down the significance of the comparison. He considered the discussion largely irrelevant because there was no meaningful way for him to make a definitive judgement between the two cars.
After it was pointed out that Hadjar had originally introduced the subject, Verstappen maintained the same position. He indicated that a comment from one driver did not need to be taken to another driver or rival team in an attempt to generate a further reaction. In his view, such exchanges could simply be left alone rather than developed into an unnecessary controversy.
The response reflected Verstappen’s reluctance to become involved in a debate about hypothetical differences between Ferrari and Red Bull. Ferrari’s actual strengths and limitations at Marina Bay can be considered in more detail through the technical analysis of the SF-26 at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Verstappen acknowledges Ferrari’s Singapore pace
Although he rejected the broader comparison, Verstappen did not deny Ferrari’s competitiveness. Asked more directly whether the Scuderia had genuinely been fast in Singapore, the Dutchman acknowledged that the Italian team had shown very strong pace.
That distinction was important to his argument. Recognising Ferrari’s performance on one particular weekend was different from claiming to know how the SF-26 compared with the Red Bull from a driver’s perspective. For a broader season-level picture, Ferrari’s results, qualifying performance and race pace against Red Bull and the other constructors can be explored through the Ferrari versus F1 rivals statistics.
Max Verstappen also plays down his own qualifying performance
The conversation then moved to Verstappen’s qualifying lap, which had secured pole position. He assessed the effort positively but resisted describing it as exceptional, explaining that he had felt comfortable with the car while still believing there was always scope to improve a lap.
His assessment of Ferrari followed the same cautious approach. Verstappen stressed that he could not determine exactly how good the SF-26 was because he had never driven the car himself. For that reason, he regarded definitive arguments about which machine was superior as having little practical meaning.
Verstappen therefore left little room for the Ferrari comparison to develop into a larger confrontation. He was prepared to acknowledge the speed demonstrated by the Scuderia in Singapore, but not to make a judgement about a hypothetical car comparison that he believed could not be properly established.
Leave a Reply