18-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz emerged victorious at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, putting an end to Formula 1 leader Max Verstappen’s incredible streak of 10 consecutive wins and shattering Red Bull’s hopes of maintaining an unbeaten record for the season.
Lando Norris from McLaren secured a close second place, while Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes clinched third place. This marked the first time since the Brazilian Grand Prix in November of the previous year that Red Bull didn’t make it to the podium.
In a meticulously strategic and suspenseful race, Carlos Sainz, affectionately known as the “smooth operator,” executed his plan flawlessly. Starting from pole position, he controlled the pace of the race, ensuring there were no opportunities for a safety car intervention. Sainz also managed his tire wear efficiently and provided valuable support to his former teammate, Lando Norris, in fending off the pursuing Mercedes drivers.
Mercedes’ George Russell, with significantly fresher medium tires than the frontrunners, was vying for the win but tragically crashed on the final lap while in third place.
“We executed the race to perfection,” said Sainz after securing his second career victory with Ferrari. “We did everything required, and we delivered a first-place finish that I’m certain will make Italy and Ferrari proud and happy today.”
Sainz impressively stretched the life of his hard tires for 42 laps, winning at the slowest possible speed, securing Ferrari’s first victory since Charles Leclerc’s triumph in Austria in July of the previous year.
Red Bull had enjoyed a remarkable 15 consecutive wins until this race, but their winning streak seemed destined to end as soon as they failed to qualify in the top 10. Double world champion Max Verstappen, starting in 11th place, finished fifth, while his teammate and closest rival, Sergio Perez, the defending champion in Singapore from the previous year, finished in eighth place.
Despite the result, Verstappen extended his overall lead to 151 points, up from his previous total of 145, with seven rounds remaining and Japan next on the calendar.
The safety car was deployed on lap 20 after Logan Sargeant’s Williams car struck the wall, leaving debris on the track. Ferrari’s cars pitted during this period, but the Red Bulls chose to stay out. Verstappen, who had started the race on the more durable hard tires, held the second position, with Perez in fourth. However, they were soon overtaken and then plummeted down the order when they made their pit stops under normal conditions.
The 2023 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix attracted more than anticipated, with 264,108 spectators attending over the race weekend. Organizers had initially estimated around 250,000 spectators due to the closure of the Bay Grandstand for redevelopment.
Last year, the event set a record with 302,000 spectators, surpassing the 268,000 figure from the 2019 edition. The Singapore Grand Prix had to be canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement released on Sunday, organizers revealed that Super Early Bird tickets for next year’s race have already sold out within just 72 hours of going on sale, indicating continued strong demand for the event into 2024.
