Lando Norris followed Sainz closely to claim second place, with Lewis Hamilton taking third. The unexpected turn of events meant that championship leader Max Verstappenwho has been unstoppable recently, finished in fifth place, marking the first time Red Bull failed to win a race this season.
Carlos Sainz demonstrated exceptional control and strategy as he brilliantly led the night race from pole position to clinch only his second career win. His previous triumph was at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone the year before.
Red Bull’s dream of winning every race in 2023 was dashed as Verstappen, who had won the last ten consecutive races, had to settle for fifth place after starting from 11th on the grid. His teammate, Sergio Perez, finished in eighth place.
Sainz, reflecting on his victory, exclaimed, “An incredible feeling, incredible weekend. We nailed a weekend and nailed the race. We did everything we had to do. We did it perfectly and brought home a P1 that I’m sure all of Italy and Ferrari will be proud of today.”
Sainz seemed destined for a comfortable win until a virtual safety car was deployed 20 laps from the end, allowing the two Mercedes drivers to switch to fresh medium-compound tires. Russell and Hamilton quickly gained ground, overtaking the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who ultimately finished in fourth place.
However, Sainz’s strategic brilliance came into play as he kept his former teammate Norris within the DRS (Drag Reduction System) range, preventing the Mercedes drivers from making a successful pass. Norris played a crucial role in defending second place.
“It was all about managing the beginning of the stints to make sure I made it to the target laps,” explained Sainz. “The safety car forced us to pit earlier than we wanted, and I knew it was going to be a long stint on the hards. It was just quite tight at the end. We gave Lando a bit of DRS to help him, and in the end, it worked.”
Russell pressured Norris intensely until his challenge took a dramatic turn on the final lap, culminating in a collision with the wall at turn eight. This unexpected incident handed Lewis Hamilton the final podium spot.
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Norris praised Sainz, stating, “Carlos was very generous trying to help me get DRS. It helped my race and it also helped his. We did everything we needed to do and more. So super happy.”
Earlier in the race, Sainz made a clean getaway from pole position, with his teammate Charles Leclerc using softer compound tires to overtake Russell, who had started in second place. A safety car period was triggered when Logan Sargeant hit the wall on lap 20, prompting a flurry of pit-lane activity among the leaders for fresh tires.
While Verstappen initially stayed out, he later struggled as the fresher-tire-equipped Russell, Norris, Hamilton, and Leclerc all comfortably passed him. Perez and Verstappen’s pit stops also pushed them down the field.
With just 10 laps to go, Russell successfully overtook Leclerc, with Hamilton following suit a lap later. Russell had been the last non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix before Sainz, securing a win in Brazil in November the previous year before his race ended in dramatic fashion in Singapore.
Lewis Hamilton expressed sympathy for Russell, saying, “Extremely unfortunate for George. We were pushing so hard to catch these guys, and our tires were so hot. But I know he will bounce back. He’s been phenomenal all weekend.”
While Max Verstappen remains the clear favourite for a third world title, he has yet to win a race in Singapore. Red Bull’s dominant streak in 2023 had seen them win all 14 races prior to Singapore, but their aspirations for a record-breaking season have taken a hit.
To surpass the Formula One record set by Mercedes in 2016, when Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton won 19 out of 21 Grand Prix races, Red Bull now needs to secure victory in six of the remaining seven races in the season.
(With inputs from AFP)
