Only fourth on the time charts, Verstappen’s best was 0.313 seconds slower than Sainz’s fastest lap of 1 minute, 32.065 seconds.
In addition to Lando Norris’ McLaren, George Russell’s Mercedes was the first to cross the finish line.
Sergio Perez, a teammate of Verstappen’s from Red Bull who won in Singapore last year, was only seventh fastest.
The Red Bulls have won all 14 grand prix races so far in 2023, and Dutchman Verstappen has won 12 of those races, including the last 10 straight. The other two have gone to his Mexican partner Perez.
Verstappen’s best finish at the time was only fourth.However, Singapore’s Marina Bay street circuit is expected to present Red Bull with its greatest obstacle in their historically unprecedented attempt to win all 22 races this season.
Verstappen and Perez struggled on Friday as Ferrari dominated with a one-two at the top of the time sheets in both practice sessions.
Sainz set the pace for the first time in two sessions on Saturday, but his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was unable to match it and finished sixth, just 0.003 seconds behind Verstappen.
More than half a second faster than Perez, who complained of handling issues for the second day in a row, Oscar Piastri’s second McLaren finished sixth alongside Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in sixth.
who complained of handling problems for the second day running. sheets, 0.313 sec behind Sainz’s hot lap of 1min 32.065sec. George Russell’s Mercedes and the McLaren of Lando Norris also crossed the line ahead of the runaway championship leader. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who won in Singapore a year ago, was only eighth fastest.
The Red Bulls have been unstoppable so far in 2023, winning all 14 grands prix, with Dutchman Verstappen taking the chequered flag 12 times, including the last 10 races in a row. His Mexican teammate Perez has won the other two.
On the team radio, he said to his race engineer, “The rear is still on edge.I’m still sliding on entrances, and when I brake, the front feels rather light.
Verstappen was dissatisfied once more after describing Red Bull’s performance on Friday as “unexpected”.
“I’m just having trouble with my rear grip. Do you see that final segment? He protested to the Red Bull garage, “I’m simply drifting.
The top two were driven by Yuki Tsunoda in the AlphaTauri and Nico Hulkenberg in a significantly improved Haas.
Later on Saturday, qualifying will be crucial due to Singapore’s congested and winding city center street layout, which made its debut on the calendar in 2008.
Nine of the 13 grands prix staged in the city state previously have been won from the front row of the grid.