In a stunning turn of events that shook the Formula 1 world, Max Verstappen's seemingly unstoppable charge through the record books came to a crashing halt under the dazzling lights of Singapore's Marina Bay Circuit.
The Red Bull superstar, who had equalled Sebastian Vettel's record of nine consecutive victories just one week prior, saw his dreams of a perfect ten shattered during a chaotic qualifying session that left him starting from a dismal 11th position.
Red Bull's Saturday Nightmare
Verstappen's weekend unravelled during qualifying when his RB19 failed to deliver the pace that has dominated the 2024 season. The Dutch driver struggled throughout the session, barely scraping into Q2 before ultimately failing to make the top-ten shootout.
"We just had a terrible day," a frustrated Verstappen admitted. "The car was undriveable - no grip, massive balance issues. From the first practice session, we knew something was wrong, but we never found the solution."
Ferrari's Resurgence Under the Lights
While Red Bull floundered, Ferrari capitalised in spectacular fashion. Carlos Sainz secured pole position with a blistering lap, marking the Scuderia's first top qualifying spot of the season and setting up a tantalising prospect for Sunday's race.
The Spanish driver will line up alongside George Russell's Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc completing the top three in a surprising shake-up of the established order.
What Went Wrong for the Champions?
Team principal Christian Horner pointed to significant setup issues that plagued both cars throughout the weekend. "We missed the window completely," Horner explained. "The car was bouncing, the ride was horrible, and we never got the tyres working properly. It's been our worst qualifying of the season by far."
Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull fared only slightly better, qualifying 13th in a double blow for the championship-leading team.
The Road Ahead
With Verstappen facing a monumental challenge from the midfield, Singapore's tight street circuit offers limited overtaking opportunities. The Dutchman will need a combination of strategic brilliance, safety car interventions, and pure racing talent to salvage points from what has become a damage limitation exercise.
As the F1 circus moves to the floodlit streets, all eyes will be on whether Ferrari can convert their qualifying pace into race-winning performance, and whether Red Bull can solve the mysteries that derailed their dominant campaign.
