RACE REPORT | F1 Singapore 2023

Carlos Sainz put in a great performance at the Singapore Grand Prix, successfully fending off attacks from Lando Norris and the great Mercedes duo to end Red Bull's winning streak in the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Sainz's dominance was evident right from the start as he led the race from pole position with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc close behind. Leclerc strategically manoeuvred around George Russell at the start of the race, who opted to start on softer tyres. However, the race took a dramatic turn when the Safety Car was deployed on lap 20 due to Logan Sargeant's crash, which left debris scattered all over the track. This forced most drivers to head to the pits for fresh tyres, yet Sainz managed to hold on to the lead, closely followed by Russell. Meanwhile, Lando Norris deftly moved ahead of Leclerc during the pit stops.

The turning point of the race came during the virtual Safety Car on lap 43, triggered by Esteban Ocon's stalled Alpina. Of the top five drivers, only Russell and Lewis Hamilton opted to change to new medium tyres, while Sainz, Norris and Leclerc stayed on their worn-out hard tyres. Russell and Hamilton produced a remarkable drive, quickly overtaking Leclerc and then closing in on Sainz and Norris. Russell appeared to be heading for victory, but Sainz made a tactical move by allowing Norris to use the Drag Reduction System (DRS), allowing the McLaren driver to hold off the fast Mercedes pair.

As a result of this strategic manoeuvre, Sainz celebrated his second career victory thanks to a superb performance at the demanding Marina Bay Street Circuit. Norris secured second place, while Hamilton, who inherited third place after Russell's crash on the final lap, completed the podium. Indeed, in the closing laps it looked like Hamilton was the quicker of the two Mercedes drivers as Russell was unable to overtake Norris. Leclerc, on the other hand, faded towards the end of the race and finished just a few tenths behind Max Verstappen, who managed to regain fifth place.

Pierre Gasly put in an impressive performance to finish sixth, taking advantage of Ocon's failure to finish and Fernando Alonso's hard race. Oscar Piastri, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson on his Formula 1 debut and Kevin Magnussen completed the top ten in an exciting Singapore Grand Prix.