STORY OF THE DAY: Sainz’s Tactical Victory Under the Lights

Carlos Sainz won the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix in the number 55 Ferrari SF-23. Starting from pole, he led every lap and finished ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. The victory ended Red Bull’s unbeaten run that season and gave Ferrari its only win of the 2023 World Championship.

Sainz managed the pace through safety-car interruptions and faced a late threat after Mercedes fitted George Russell and Hamilton with fresh medium tyres. Recognising the danger, he deliberately kept Norris within DRS range, giving the McLaren greater straight-line speed with which to resist the Mercedes cars. The calculated tactic protected both drivers, and Sainz remained composed as Russell crashed on the final lap.

The SF-23 combined a carbon-fibre composite chassis with Ferrari’s 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit. Developed under the ground-effect regulations, it was particularly effective in qualifying and on circuits requiring strong braking performance. Careful tyre management was essential because its race pace could be sensitive to degradation.

Born in Madrid, Sainz developed through karting and the Red Bull junior programme before racing for Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren. He joined Ferrari in 2021, earned his first Formula One victory at Silverstone in 2022 and added a second in Singapore. The intelligence of his race management made this one of his most accomplished performances.