Singapore F1 GP: Carlos Sainz wins from pole, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton on podium after late George Russell crash
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 17/09/2023 at 21:07 GMT
The Singapore GP saw the end to Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s season-long dominance of Formula 1 as Carlos Sainz took victory for Ferrari. It was an action-packed end to the race, as Sainz was being pursued by Lando Norris and the twin Mercedes cars of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, but Russell crashed late on to leave his fellow Brits to make up the podium. Verstappen finished fifth.
‘Perfect race’ - Driver reaction as Sainz wins thrilling Singapore Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday after a dramatic finish that saw the Spaniard hold off a trio of Brits to secure his second career race win.
Sainz’s team-mate Charles Leclerc passed George Russell at the start of the race and Lewis Hamilton then also swept past his Mercedes team-mate, running wide off the track, before he had to give up that place, and then another to Lando Norris behind him.
Sainz looked comfortable until Logan Sargeant – who went into the wall - brought out a safety car on lap 20, and many cars took the opportunity to pit.
A double stack for Ferrari cost Sainz his place to Russell, who was on the hard tyres and putting pressure on the Spaniard.
The usually dominant Max Verstappen was the second to last driver to pit as Red Bull recognised their strategy had not paid off in Singapore.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/09/17/3787117-77032268-2560-1440.jpg)
'I had quite a bit of fun out there' - Verstappen's reaction to end of winning run
That left the Dutchman facing the final third of the race from 15th, and though his run of 10 straight F1 victories was to end, he managed a creditable fifth.
A virtual safety car after Esteban Ocon broke down allowed both Mercedes in for fresh medium tyres, leaving them quicker as they targeted Leclerc and Norris behind Sainz.
Going into the final nine laps, Russell breezed past Leclerc into third, with Hamilton soon following.
That left the two Mercedes, Norris and Sainz to battle it out over the last five laps, and a tussle between the chasing trio saw the Spaniard take the victory as the British pair ran out of time, with Hamilton clinching third after Russell slammed into a wall as his tyres degraded.
DRIVER OF THE DAY - Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
The Ferrari driver might have led from the off, and early in the race it seemed as if he would be able to cruise to victory.
However the complications from the safety car meant that Lando Norris and the two Mercedes behind him gave him little room for error as he notched his second career win, and his first for the Italian team.
As Russell showed with his late crash, there is no easy race when your tyres start to fade, and the Spaniard used all his experience to stay on the track despite the pressure growing on him. Slowing his pace to bring Norris to within DRS range to give the McLaren more speed to hold off the Mercedes cars was a stroke of genius.
WHERE THE RACE WAS WON AND LOST
1/62 LECLERC PASSES RUSSELL- Hamilton has to run wide into the runoff under pressure, and Russell will likely go past Hamilton or face a penalty. There are questions over whether Hamilton will take the penalty.
19/62 YELLOW FLAG - It turns quickly to green after Logan Sargeant collides with the wall, severely damaging his wing on Turn 8. It might force a safety car to come out.
20/62 SAFETY CAR OUT, PITS GET READY - Sargeant is getting a new wing put on, and it could see a flurry of changes coming.
45/62 MERCEDES DOUBLE STACK - They might be going for broke, desperate for a victory this season. It was a brilliant and swift change, so let's see from here. They are out in fourth and fifth.
62/62 CARLOS SAINZ WINS SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - Norris sweeps into second and there is heartbreak for Russell as he slams into a wall after his tyres finally give out, and Hamilton takes his third place from him. Leclerc holds onto fourth, with Verstappen fifth. Then it's Gasly, Piastri, Perez, Lawson and Magnussen.
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article