Sunday Debrief: Sainz holds on to victory in a lively final lap of the Singapore GP

Carlos Sainz breaks Verstappen’s winning streak as he takes victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. The top four coming alive in the final laps of a thrilling Sunday night.

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Carlos Sainz took his second consecutive pole this season, the Ferrari’s dominating this weekend, his teammate Charles Leclerc lining up on the row behind him in P3. Between the Ferrari’s, George Russell, managed to squeeze his Mercedes into P2, Hamilton in the other Mercedes only managing to get into P5.

Lance Stroll missed the race after a high impact crash which brought out the red flag in Q1. The ref flag catching out a few drivers including, Piastri, Bottas and Zhou, who were all unable to get out of Q1. Both Bulls were unable to get themselves out of Q2, as Verstappen and Perez lined up in P11 and P13 respectively. Red Bull looking for a 1-2 finish to clench the 2023 constructor’s title. At the back of the grid in P19, Zhou starting from the pit lane after taking a new power unit.

Going into turn 1, Leclerc managed to put his Ferrari ahead of Russell, while Hamilton in the other Mercedes tried to make a move on his teammate, getting side by side with his teammate before going wide and getting ahead, Hamilton shortly giving the place back to his teammate. Hamilton avoiding another investigation from the Stewards, giving back a place to Norris on Lap 4. Tsunoda retired from the race on Lap 1 with a puncture, as he parked his Alphatauri on the side of the track, behind the barriers.

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The safety car was brought out on Lap 20, following a brush between Sargeant and the Barriers. Sargeant doing well to get his car back into the pits for a new front wing. The top 5 all coming in under the safety car, Sainz managing to stay ahead in P1, while Verstappen and Perez stayed out moving up into P2 and 4 respectively. The safety car returning to the pits at the end of Lap 22, Sainz getting a good jump on Verstappen at the restart. Fernando Alonso recieved a 5-second penalty for crossing the line at the pit entry during the safety car period.

Russell moving back into P2 on La 24, putting his Mercedes ahead of the reigning world champion. Hamilton a lap later making the move on the other Red Bull, going wide in the process but still managing to stay ahead. By Lap 24, Norris was the ext. to pass Verstappen to the final podium place. Red Bull really struggling in this race, as Hamilton gets past Verstappen and up into P4 on Lap 27.

Red Bull’s struggle continued past the halfway point, Perez coming into the pits on Lap 40, followed by Verstappen on Lap 41 coming out in P18 and P15. Red Bull are not the only team in this race to be unhappy with their position, with Alonso complaining on the radio that his Aston Martin is “undrivable”, a strong contract from the start of the season where he stated the car was a “lovely” car to drive.

The VSC came out for Esteban Ocon on Lap 43, the Alpine parked up on the inside of turn 2 with gearbox issues, becoming the second car to retire from the race. The two Mercedes were the only of the top 5 to come into the pits with a double stack, Russell coming out in P4 and Hamilton in P5. The race going from bad to worse for Fernando Alonso after a slow pit stop under the VSC, with a total time stationary of 25.8 seconds.

The decision to switch onto the medium tyres working for Mercedes with Russell taking the fastest lap after the first lap on Lap 46, the next fastest lap set by Hamilton on Lap 49. Russell getting past Leclerc and up into the final podium position on Lap 53, Hamilton making the move on Leclerc a lap later to get into P4 with the help of DRS, Mercedes with their hearts set on a win in Singapore. Both Mercedes on the tail of Norris by Lap 58, Norris also in DRS range from Sainz the McLaren and Mercedes’ putting the pressure on the Ferrari, a potential for a full British podium, Sainz complaining on the radio that “front tyres are finished”.

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Sainz gaining some breathing space as the battle is on between the three British drivers for P2. In pursuit of P2, chasing down Lando Norris, George Russell crashed out of the race on the final lap. Hamilton benefiting from his teammates misfortune, picked up the final podium place as the yellow flag is brought out in the final sector of the race.

As the crossed the line, for the first time this season it was not a Red Bull who went on to win the race. Sainz brilliantly lead from start to finish in a dominate weekend, where he finished on top for 4 out of 5 sessions. Lando Norris crossed the line to finish P2, with Hamilton trailing behind in P3. In the final stint to the chequered flag, Verstappen and Leclerc battled it out for P4 but it was Leclerc who won that battle. Red Bull missed out on winning the constructors title in Singapore but the battle continues as F1 heads to Japan.

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