MOTORSPORT: Sainz wins in Singapore F1 Grand Prix thriller

Red Bull’s 2023 Formula 1 winning run has ended at 14 races, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz breaking through for victory in a thrilling Singapore Grand Prix.

After a straightforward start, mid-race strategy calls threw the race wide open, with Sainz eventually leading a four-car train in the closing laps – which included podium challenger George Russell (Mercedes) hitting the wall on the final circuit.

The success was the second of the Spaniard’s career, following his breakthrough win at last year’s British Grand Prix.

“An incredible feeling, an incredible weekend,” said Sainz.

“I want to thank everyone in Ferrari for making this huge effort to turn around and manage to win this season after a tricky beginning.

“But now we nailed the weekend, we nailed the race … Everything that we had to do, we did perfect, and we brought home a P1 that I’m sure all Italy, all Ferrari, is going to be proud and happy today.”

Sainz won the jump from pole position to lead Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc early. Lewis Hamilton ran wide at the opening turn and had to give a position back to his Mercedes teammate Russell, while Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) backed up his non-start in Italy with a first-lap retirement after contact with Oscar Piastri (McLaren).

A couple of laps later, Hamilton moved over for Lando Norris (McLaren) to completely readdress the first corner shortcut.

The complexion of the race changed on lap 19 of 62 when Logan Sargeant (Williams) hit the wall with the debris clean-up seeing the safety car called. This saw the field take to the pits, with an errant entry by Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) attracting a 5sec penalty.

Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen – who was aiming for 11 wins in a row in Singapore – elected not to stop, but in resuming second on worn hard tyres he fell down the order before finally pitting on lap 41 and resuming in 15th position.

On lap 43, Esteban Ocon retired his Alpine on track, necessitating a virtual safety car, which saw Mercedes double-stack in the pits, while Alonso lost further ground with a tardy service.

Racing resumed on lap 45 with Sainz leading Norris and Leclerc, all on old tyres.

By the final circuit, Sainz held the advantage over Norris and the Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton, although that order changed when Norris tapped the fence and continued, but Russell’s similar wall glance ended in the barriers.

At the chequered flag, Sainz won from Norris and Hamilton, while Leclerc drifted back to fourth and just held on from the fast-finishing Verstappen.

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) claimed sixth, ahead of Piastri, Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and Liam Lawson (AlphaTauri), who scored his maiden F1 points after earlier in the weekend knocking Verstappen out of Q3, while Kevin Magnussen was 10th for Haas.

Elsewhere in Singapore, Lance Stroll crashed his Aston Martin heavily entering the main straight during qualifying, and despite walking away from the wreck he was ultimately a non-starter.

The F1 season continues next weekend in Japan.

2023 Singapore Grand Prix results:

2023 Formula 1 championship standings:

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