It had been said, talked about and perhaps even teased about the fact that Ferrari, being in Monza, had brought its car to maximum power, thus justifying the pole position achieved by Sainz and the excellent defense that the Spaniard had performed to 15 laps on Verstappen. From later Singapore, let's say that thoughts have changed slightly. There red exits the Marina Bay track with a victory that is worth a lot, perhaps even too much, for both the team and the driver.
Sainz, it's a victory all yours
Ferrari greets the Singapore GP as a true protagonist, with Carlos Sainz who achieved a hard-fought victory, a very hard one, and brought it home with ingenuity, what only someone like him can have. In fact, a few laps from the end, the Spaniard - to prevent an unleashed Russell (third) from overtaking Norris (second) - it doesn't lengthen, on the contrary, it slows down. He does this to allow the McLaren driver to always be under second, therefore having the DRS is available to defend against the W14 of issue #63, which will hit the wall on the last lap. No sooner said than done.
Simply a masterpiece for a night that Sainz, we can rest assured, will never forget. It is a triumph that further certifies the strength of a driver who has perhaps heard too much about his role in Ferrari. Sainz thinks about the track and demonstrates, once again, that with a fast car – and the SF23 was – he can Formula 1 the driver makes and will always make the difference.
Leclerc and his ability to be a team player
Fourth instead, just off the podium, was Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque's start was exceptional but this time it was the safety car that weighed heavily: upon his arrival Leclerc, like the other drivers on the grid with the exception of Red Bull, returned to the pits. Once the tires were changed, the Monegasque was unable to get out because he was in front of him Hamilton – ready to enter the lay-by – slows him down, waiting for Russell to finish his pit. A triggering event that certainly influenced the continuation of the race for number #16 who, despite everything, even after the race understood and scrutinized the moment: he knows that Ferrari won and, at least for this weekend, that's fine: "I'm sorry not to be on the podium, but in the end Ferrari won” – admitted Leclerc.
Ferrari, what will you be at Suzuka?
And now it comes Suzuka. Different track, or rather very different, compared to Marina Bay, but that doesn't mean the values will change completely. We undoubtedly expect a return from Red Bull - the real absentee of the Singapore weekend - but Ferrari will have to be there, also because the second place in the manufacturers, after Monza and Singapore, is starting to get closer and closer.
