Red Bull's comeback has McLaren in a frenzy.

      "They’ve discovered something."

      Max Verstappen's revival post-Christian Horner continued in Singapore, with Red Bull's championship aspirations suddenly looking more viable. Despite being 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, Verstappen is currently on a three-race streak that has re-engaged Red Bull in the battle.

      Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde mentioned to Viaplay that the team's advancements might not be coincidental. "There’s a rumor that they’ve found something with the suspension," he stated. "(Laurent) Mekies has also observed that the Racing Bull performs well, even on curbs and bumps. In the last few races, the car's performance has noticeably improved. They've found something, but no one is willing to disclose what it is."

      He suggested that new Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies might have incorporated ideas from his time overseeing Red Bull's second F1 team. "We aren't certain what he has taken, but there are rumors," van der Garde added.

      Yuki Tsunoda, who previously raced under Mekies, agreed. "I credit my improvement in the last few races to Laurent," he remarked. "When Laurent joined Red Bull, he advised the engineering team that, 'Yuki did this to enhance performance in this corner.' The setup I used two races ago was one I frequently employed at Racing Bulls. It felt just right when I drove with it."

      While McLaren's speed has diminished, Red Bull and Mercedes have continued to progress. Mercedes showed promise in Singapore with George Russell securing pole position, supported by a new front wing.

      Sky Italia’s Matteo Bobbi observed: "They’ve altered the point at which downforce is created, and the amount it flexes indicates the speed advantage and the shift in downforce."

      Red Bull also introduced a new front wing at Marina Bay, yet Dr. Helmut Marko asserts that the major advancements arise from a change in philosophy. "We've taken numerous steps. For instance, we've rolled out several new components," he told ORF. "However, the most significant gains are due to an altered approach.

      "We’re no longer solely relying on simulator data - the engineers and drivers are now collaboratively discussing the situation. Following that, we reach a compromise. It's clear that this will make us competitive at every circuit."

      Mekies himself downplayed his role but acknowledged that the team had made significant progress. "A massive credit goes to everyone at the factory for turning things around," he said. "We faced a considerable disadvantage, which has definitely been mitigated. We’re back in the competition."

      McLaren CEO Zak Brown admitted that the team's supremacy has waned. "We weren't fast enough," he stated post-qualifying. "This illustrates how quickly this sport evolves."

      Marko concurred, pointing out that Red Bull's competitiveness at a traditionally challenging venue like Singapore is notable. "We’re competitive on our tough track, which gives us confidence for the remainder of the season. As long as we finish ahead of the two McLarens here, it’s a success for us."

      A candid Lando Norris acknowledged that others have closed the gap. "Others have made improvements," he noted. "Mercedes has done well, and Red Bull has been strong these past few weekends. None of this is surprising."

      "The car remains the same; it's the best of the season, but others are performing better," Norris added. "We have work ahead of us. It’s late in the season to say this, but there are aspects to improve for next year."

      McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the Woking team halted upgrades weeks ago. "We ceased developing the car some time ago and are completely focused on 2026," he said.

      "Red Bull introduced a new floor at Monza and a new front wing here. The evidence shows they’ve resolved both challenges - the issues at high-downforce tracks and the specific problems in Singapore. But we’re discussing Red Bull here, an extremely capable team. And Max is simply Max Verstappen."