Carlos Sainz wins Singapore Grand Prix to end Max Verstappen’s streak

Carlos Sainz said Ferrari “didn’t put a foot wrong” as the Spanish driver drove a perfect race to win a thrilling Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday and end Red Bull’s hopes of sweeping every race in 2023.

NOTE: This is an updated article to reflect the latest world championship standings

But an emotional George Russell was close to tears after crashing his Mercedes on the final lap after attempting a late victory charge on fresher tyres.

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Lando Norris was second after a brilliant defensive drive to hold off the Mercedes pair as Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in third after team-mate Russell’s lapse.

Championship leader Max Verstappen, who had won the last 10 races, was only fifth as Red Bull failed to take the chequered flag for the first time this season after a weekend where they were consistently off the pace.

His team-mate Sergio Perez crossed the line eighth.

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Sainz controlled the night race around the city-centre street circuit brilliantly from pole position to take only his second career win, the first coming at the British Grand Prix last year.

“An incredible feeling. We didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend,” said Sainz.

“We nailed the race. We had one opportunity to win a race this year and we did it perfect,” added the Spaniard.

Carlos Sainz seemed set for a comfortable win until a virtual safety car 20 laps from the end gave the two Mercedes the chance to change to fresh medium-compound tyres.

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Russell and Hamilton came out flying and soon reeled in and passed the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth.

But when they got on the heels of the top two they could not get past as Sainz cleverly backed up to keep his former team-mate Norris within DRS (drag reduction system) range so the Englishman could defend second place.

“It was just quite tight at the end. We gave Lando a bit of a cheeky DRS boost to help him and in the end it worked,” said Sainz.

“The safety car forced us to pit earlier than we wanted and I knew it was going to be a long stint on the hards.”

‘Very generous’

Russell was all over the back of Norris until his challenge ended in the barriers, handing Hamilton the final podium place.

“It’s heartbreaking after such a great weekend,” said Russell.

“I feel like I let myself and the team down. It’s tough but we will come back.”

Norris was grateful for the help he received from Sainz, his former team-mate.

“Carlos was very generous trying to help me get DRS. It helped my race and it also helped his,” said Norris.

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly was sixth, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri seventh.

Rookie Liam Lawson picked up his first championship points in ninth for AlphaTauri on only his third Formula One start and Haas’s Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top 10 points scorers.

Carlos Sainz began the race smoothly to take the lead with Leclerc slotting into second and there was little action until Logan Sargeant prompted a safety car when he lost the front wing of his Williams on lap 20.

A flurry of pit-lane activity followed as all the leaders headed in for fresh hard tyres to take them to the end of the 62-lap race.

Leclerc was held up double-stacking behind Sainz and Russell and Norris emerged in front of the Monegasque.

The order was unchanged until Esteban Ocon’s engine gave out causing a virtual safety car with 18 laps left.

It prompted the Mercedes pair to dive in for fresh medium tyres as the leaders stayed out.

It put the pair behind Leclerc but they were lapping two seconds quicker and soon swept past the Monegasque and closed on Norris until Russell’s error cost him a podium place.

Verstappen is still a runaway favourite to claim a third world title but the all-conquering Dutchman has still never taken the chequered flag in Singapore.

He now cannot clinch the title until the Qatar GP in three weeks’ time, but said the team would bounce back at next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, where the track will suit them better.

“I had fun in the second stint. We were quite quick on the medium compound,” said Verstappen, who increased his lead over Perez to 151 points with seven races to go.

“I think we will be quick in Suzuka.”

Result of the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit on Sunday:

1. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 305km in 1hr 46min 37.418sec 2. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) at 0.812sec 3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) at 1.269 4. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) at 21.177 5. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) at 21.441 6. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine) at 38.441 7. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) at 41.479 8. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) at 54.534 9. Liam Lawson (NZL/AlphaTauri) at 1:05.918 10. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) at 1:12.116 11. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams) at 1:13.417 12. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) at 1:23.649 13. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas) at 1:26.201 14. Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams) at 1:26.889 15. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) at 1:27.603 16. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes-AMG) at 1 lap

Retirements: Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri) Lap 1, Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine) Lap 43, Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) Lap 52.

Did not start: Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton 1:35.867

World championship standings:

Drivers

1. Max Verstappen (NED) 374 pts, 2. Sergio Perez (MEX) 223, 3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 180, 4. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 170, 5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 142, 6. Charles Leclerc (MON) 123, 7. George Russell (GBR) 109, 8. Lando Norris (GBR) 97, 9. Lance Stroll (CAN) 47, 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 45, 11. Oscar Piastri (AUS) 42, 12. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 36, 13. Alexander Albon (THA) 21, 14. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 9, 15. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 6, 16. Guanyu Zhou (CHN) 4, 17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 3, 18. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) 3, 19. Liam Lawson (NZL) 2

Constructors

1. Red Bull 597 pts, 2. Mercedes 289, 3. Ferrari 265, 4. Aston Martin 217, 5. McLaren 139, 6. Alpine 81, 7. Williams 21, 8. Haas 12, 9. Alfa Romeo 10, 10. AlphaTauri 5

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse