Lambiase comes up with genius solution to Verstappen's radio fails in Singapore GP

Verstappen's Singapore Grand Prix victory came despite a radio issue that left communication between the four-time world champion and the Red Bull pit wall compromised. Although the Dutchman could hear the instructions coming from his team, his own messages were not getting through, making it difficult for Red Bull to receive feedback or discuss strategic decisions in the usual way.

Rather than abandon communication altogether, Lambiase came up with an alternative solution that allowed Verstappen to respond without relying on his voice being heard.

The unusual exchange came when Red Bull needed to establish whether Verstappen was prepared to make a pit stop that would see him rejoin the race behind Charles Leclerc. With the team unable to understand the Dutchman's responses, Lambiase devised a simple system based on whether Verstappen activated his radio button.

The instruction effectively turned Verstappen's malfunctioning radio into a way of communicating his preference. By remaining silent, the Dutchman could indicate that he was willing to accept the proposed strategy, while attempting to speak would signal his opposition.

Verstappen understood the message and remained silent, allowing Lambiase to acknowledge his response: "Okay, mate. Understood. Thank you."

The communication difficulties continued until the chequered flag, meaning Red Bull was still unable to hear Verstappen properly when he crossed the line to claim victory in Singapore. The Dutchman attempted to speak over the radio after winning the race, but his message was once again unintelligible to the pit wall.

Team principal Laurent Mekies therefore took the opportunity to congratulate Verstappen himself, acknowledging the unusual circumstances while praising his performance: "Well done, Max. It's a shame we can't hear you, but everyone is screaming at you to say, 'Well done, you've completely dominated that one.'"

Speaking after the race, Verstappen reflected on the unusual communication problems that affected him throughout the race, joking that his Lambiase might even have appreciated not being able to hear him. The Dutchman explained that the improvised radio code worked well enough for the team to understand his intentions, although he admitted that the situation was far from ideal.

Verstappen also revealed that the issue was not limited to Singapore, with radio communication proving troublesome throughout the season. However, he described the problems at Marina Bay as particularly severe, adding a sarcastic remark about an otherwise successful weekend.