Verstappen turns up pressure on Red Bull despite pole: 'There is no excuse'

The four-time world champion has established himself as the driver to beat over a single lap in recent sessions, but converting those performances into an advantage at the start has proved more challenging.

During Saturday's Singapore Sprint, Verstappen lost the lead to George Russell as the lights went out, while a similar situation unfolded in Malaysia, where both Mercedes drivers managed to get ahead of him in the opening stages.

Those difficulties have become a particular concern for Verstappen, especially given the stronger starts produced by Racing Bulls. Despite sharing the same power unit, the two teams have experienced contrasting fortunes off the line, leaving the Red Bull driver searching for improvements ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix.

Asked about the difference between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, Verstappen made it clear that the shared engine leaves little room for justification: "The engines are exactly the same, everything is the same, so there is no excuse."

His response highlights an issue that could prove costly on circuits where track position is particularly important. Singapore presents precisely that challenge, with overtaking traditionally difficult around the Marina Bay Street Circuit and a strong start potentially playing a decisive role in the outcome of the race.

Verstappen's latest pole position gives him another opportunity to control proceedings from the front, although his recent experiences demonstrate how quickly that advantage can disappear. The opening metres will therefore be crucial, particularly with Russell already showing during the Sprint that the Dutchman can be vulnerable off the line.