Verstappen seeking Red Bull 'trade' after Singapore disaster

Max Verstappen is seeking a "trade-off" in balance from his Red Bull after a troubled Friday at the Singapore Grand Prix. 

The reigning world champion was an encouraging fourth in FP1, but floundered badly in FP2 and was only 15th in the times, over a second behind the pace of session leader Lando Norris on the soft tyres. 

Red Bull came into the Singapore weekend fearing its RB20 machine would struggle after an alarming run of form culminated in McLaren taking over the lead of the constructors' in Azerbaijan. 

Verstappen is facing an eighth straight race without victory if he does not take a career-first at Marina Bay - with multiple offs and moments through the Friday running. 

Reflecting on the difficult day, Verstappen admitted to just having a lack of fundamental grip. 

"It was difficult, [we did] just not having the grip that we would like, so we have a few things to look at," he explained.

"[The kerbs] are less of a problem, to be honest, I was already struggling with the bumps, the kerbs and just general grip. 

"We have to look at the trade-offs between the two."

Team-mate Sergio Perez fared a little better as he took eighth in FP2, nearly half-a-second clear of Verstappen.