INSIDE STORY: Carlos Sainz's Smooth Operation | 2023 Singapore Grand Prix | Lenovo

Summary

The Singapore Grand Prix unfolds with intense action as Carlos Sainz starts from pole position, fending off challenges from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes’ George Russell battles to take the lead but faces setbacks, while Max Verstappen’s strategy falters. Sainz tactically supports Lando Norris by giving him DRS, defending against the Mercedes charge. In a dramatic finale, Russell crashes out, and Sainz claims victory with his strategic brilliance, breaking Red Bull's dominance. Ferrari’s smooth execution and thrilling on-track battles keep fans on the edge until the final moments.

Takeaways

• 🏁 The Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay is wide open, with four teams vying for victory.
• 😲 Max Verstappen starts from 11th on the grid, a major shock for the season.
• 🎯 Carlos Sainz secures his second consecutive pole position, his fifth career pole overall.
• 🚀 Charles Leclerc makes a strong start, overtaking George Russell and battling for second place.
• 🔄 Mercedes drivers engage in a close battle, with Hamilton and Russell fighting for position early on.
• 📊 Teams are managing tire strategies carefully, especially Max Verstappen who is on hard tires.
• ⚠️ Logan Sargeant's crash brings out the virtual safety car, prompting key pit stops and strategic shifts.
• 🚦 Russell and Hamilton fight hard against Ferrari and McLaren as the race nears its conclusion.
• 😱 George Russell crashes out on the final lap, ending his chances for a podium finish.
• 🏆 Carlos Sainz wins the Singapore Grand Prix, demonstrating strategic brilliance in defending against Mercedes and McLaren.

Q & A

What is the setting of the race in the transcript?

The race takes place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit during the Singapore Grand Prix.

Which driver is highlighted for starting from 11th position?

Max Verstappen is highlighted as starting from 11th, which is noted as one of the biggest shocks of the season.

Which team secured a 1-2 position at the start of the race?

Ferrari secured a 1-2 position at the start of the race, with Carlos Sainz leading and Charles Leclerc in second place.

What was George Russell's position on the starting grid?

George Russell started on the front row, marking his first time back in that position since the Australian Grand Prix.

What was the tire strategy for Max Verstappen during the race?

Max Verstappen started on the hard tire, which was a different strategy compared to the cars ahead of him.

What tactical move did Carlos Sainz use to help Lando Norris during the race?

Carlos Sainz slowed down to give Lando Norris DRS (Drag Reduction System), helping him defend against George Russell.

How did George Russell's race end?

George Russell crashed into the wall on the last lap, ending his race while battling for the lead.

Who won the Singapore Grand Prix?

Carlos Sainz won the Singapore Grand Prix, displaying tactical brilliance to secure the victory.

What was the reaction of Carlos Sainz after winning the race?

Carlos Sainz expressed joy and pride, calling it a 'perfect weekend' and performing his signature 'smooth operation.'

How did the Mercedes drivers' strategy differ from their rivals?

Mercedes drivers, including George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, opted for a two-stop strategy, using an extra set of medium tires, while their rivals stayed on a different strategy.

Outlines

00:00

🏁 Exciting Start to the Singapore Grand Prix

The Singapore Grand Prix begins with intense action at the Marina Bay Circuit, one of Formula 1's premier stages. Carlos Sainz takes pole position, followed closely by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen, starting from 11th, is on a different tire strategy and has to work his way up. The Ferraris lead early, while Hamilton overtakes Norris. Mercedes faces internal team orders as George Russell pressures Hamilton, but the drivers are asked to swap positions. The race builds tension with strategies and tire management becoming critical as drivers temper their pace to conserve tires.

05:01

🚦 Mid-Race Strategy and Mercedes' Pressure

The race intensifies as the safety car period ends. Teams begin strategizing, with Mercedes pressuring the Ferraris and Sainz leading. George Russell starts attacking Max Verstappen, and the Red Bull struggles to match its usual dominance. With the midfield holding up drivers, tire management becomes a key concern. Mercedes debates a two-stop strategy while keeping an eye on their rivals. The race is in a delicate balance with Ferrari leading, but the field tightly packed as the clock ticks down. The threat of a virtual safety car looms, adding to the strategic complexity.

10:02

⚖️ Final Battle for Victory: Sainz, Norris, and Mercedes

As the race nears its conclusion, the fight for the win heats up. Carlos Sainz leads, but he's tactically backing Lando Norris to give him DRS to defend against the Mercedes cars. George Russell is closing in on Norris while Lewis Hamilton looms behind, ready to strike. The top four cars are bunched up, and any mistake could decide the outcome. Russell makes a desperate attempt to pass Norris but fails, and in a dramatic turn, crashes into the wall, ending his race. Sainz's strategic brilliance secures him the victory, as the Ferrari driver holds off the competition in a thrilling finish.

Keywords

💡Singapore Grand Prix

The Singapore Grand Prix is a Formula 1 race held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. This particular race is known for its challenging street layout, held at night under lights, and it often features dramatic strategies and unexpected results, as seen in the script where multiple teams are competing for victory.

💡Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz is a Spanish Formula 1 driver who, in this race, secured a back-to-back pole position and ultimately won the Singapore Grand Prix. His 'tactical brilliance' is highlighted as a key factor in the race, especially when he manages the gap to assist other drivers, including Lando Norris, and maintain his lead.

💡Ferrari

Ferrari is one of the most iconic Formula 1 teams, and in this race, they dominated with a 1-2 lead at the start. The team’s strategies, particularly concerning Sainz and Charles Leclerc, play a crucial role in controlling the pace of the race and defending their positions.

💡George Russell

George Russell is a British driver for Mercedes who had a prominent role in this race. He started from the front row, engaged in an intense battle for the win, and ultimately crashed on the last lap, dramatically ending his chance of victory. His pursuit of Ferrari and McLaren towards the end of the race is a critical storyline.

💡Lando Norris

Lando Norris, a British driver for McLaren, was closely involved in the battle for the top positions in this race. Norris's defense against George Russell, aided by Carlos Sainz, is highlighted as a key factor that contributed to Sainz’s victory, and his performance is crucial in the final laps.

💡Safety Car

A safety car is deployed in Formula 1 when there's an accident or hazard on the track, slowing down the race while the situation is cleared. In this race, the safety car played a strategic role, bunching up the cars and allowing for pit stops that significantly affected race positions and strategies.

💡Pit stop

A pit stop is a crucial moment in Formula 1 where teams change tires or make repairs. In this race, the timing of pit stops was vital for teams like Mercedes, who elected to use new medium tires to gain an advantage in the final stages, though their strategy ultimately fell short for Russell.

💡DRS (Drag Reduction System)

The Drag Reduction System (DRS) is a mechanism in Formula 1 that allows cars to reduce aerodynamic drag, increasing their speed when close to a car in front. In this race, DRS played a significant role in the battle between Norris and Russell, where Norris used it to defend his position in the closing stages.

💡Strategy

Strategy is critical in Formula 1, involving decisions on tire choices, pit stops, and race pacing. Throughout the script, teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull are seen carefully managing their strategies to maximize their chances of victory. Carlos Sainz’s race is described as a 'tactical masterpiece,' showcasing the importance of strategy.

💡Tires

Tires are a vital component in Formula 1, as different compounds (soft, medium, hard) have varying impacts on performance and durability. In this race, tire management was a key aspect, with drivers like Max Verstappen starting on the hard tire, while others, like Mercedes, gambled on a switch to mediums later in the race to gain an advantage.

Highlights

Carlos Sainz takes back-to-back pole positions and leads the Singapore Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc quickly moves into second place at the start, giving Ferrari a 1-2 lead.

Lewis Hamilton overtakes Lando Norris and positions himself in third, setting up a competitive race.

Max Verstappen, starting 11th, faces tough competition, with Ferrari and Mercedes fighting for the lead.

Mercedes opts to invert positions between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton to enhance race strategy.

Carlos Sainz leads the race with Max Verstappen on a different tire strategy, staying competitive.

Virtual Safety Car triggers a wave of pit stops, leaving Max Verstappen with an uncertain position in the race.

Ferrari’s strategy with Carlos Sainz benefits from a well-timed pit stop during the VSC.

George Russell makes a bold move on Charles Leclerc to take third place, setting himself up for a potential win.

Carlos Sainz skillfully manages his lead by giving Lando Norris DRS to defend against George Russell.

A strategic battle between Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren emerges, with Lando Norris holding off the Mercedes duo.

Carlos Sainz’s tactical awareness helps him maintain the lead, keeping Norris and the Mercedes drivers at bay.

George Russell crashes into the wall on the final lap, ending his chances of a podium finish.

Carlos Sainz wins the Singapore Grand Prix with tactical brilliance, marking his first victory at this race.

Ferrari celebrates a masterful weekend, with Carlos Sainz earning praise for a perfect strategy execution.

Transcripts

radio check loud and clear safety C in

this lap available box now box box this

box

confirm one of formula one's greatest

stages is set welcome to the Singapore

Grand Prix it is wide open at Marina Bay

and you can make a case for four teams

taking the checkered flag in 2 hours

time Max is sfen 11th the biggest shock

of the season so far Russell returns to

the front row for the first time since

the Australian Grand Prix it is a

back-to-back poll position for Carlos

sence the fifth poll in his

[Music]

career and the Singapore Grand Prix is

go good launch off the line by the P3

man charl Clair is trying to take second

place Carlos holds the lead charl Clair

doeses take second place and Lewis

Hamilton is all over the RO he had got

past Lando Norris but he rejoins does

norrris get back ahead of him that's the

question no Hamilton takes that third

place on the road does he give the

position to his teammate the two

Mercedes side by side it's a Ferrari one

two at Marina Bay George Russell will

want that place back Howton was all over

the

road so he going to let me back past

or give that face back let me

know so we will invert the positions

again so we'll give place to George

right behind

himar just managing the uh the

P you can just tell there's some

management going on here because look at

how closely lined up all the cars are

and the last car on the group is BAS a

group of 18 cars 17 cars and Bas 417 but

this really suits for slapping down to

the ground he's on the hard Tire he's on

a different Str to all of these cars

ahead of him yeah anyone who picks right

now is going to come out right behind

Bas what you are doing is good and Bas

412 the back I think it's a good

strategy for them at the moment they've

just got to keep those tires alive and

that's why they're just everyone's just

tempering the pace Target Gap to sign we

need 3 seconds at the moment it's 1.0

cop try to slow

down so I could go forever at I have

more than a second in

that's that's good and George we expect

the Ferraris to open up a 3se second gap

between themselves they'll start

watching you back been told yeah it

looks like they a sacrifice the work any

option to do so we'll keep on top of it

but best thing we can do right now just

keep on top of these two

Ferraris now it's just one big Formula 1

Train I think

is so got to sign in front 1.2 Target

three got to signs Target

three yeah we see that Gap now is 2 and

1/2 seconds between SS CL and CH is

opening 2.4 behind and we need five

seconds in five laps there's currently

no Gap stop

into let me know what our best this race

what I need to do so we need to keep the

pressure on these

Ferraris what the behind

Charles is 3.5 behind his Target 5

seconds russle is 5.5 seconds to was R

left 397 97 rle is 2.2 from Char then

Lando 396 so the p is

good there is Logan Sergeant off the

road so we got double

y or not window

open stay out stay out risky box yeah

this must be a virtual where they're

going to have to carbon and Grand Prix

tires is not a good

combination

okay box box box box yeah packing

up he hung back there forcing the

Mercedes to have to drive slowly as well

so this could benefit the McLaren

actually just St it stays out he stays

out everyone else

picks and then it's a race to the safety

car line

good job good job save the critically SS

leads the race but staffen didn't manage

to take the lead so all of that strategy

has gone out of the window for Max he

didn't pit he still has to and he

doesn't have clear air that's huge So

currently P3 on the road as I'm sure you

can see the Steen on that hard tire from

the start yeah that's unlucky there for

Ferrari and lir but they still have one

car out front and the best news for

science is that he's got the staffen

behind him safety car in this lap safety

car in this lap what do you think is the

plan for this the plan is to keep the

pack uh together so don't pull away be

doable his Marx behind on used the hard

back to racing conditions right behind

the St here's an attack from Russell

yeah def really struggling oh Russell's

all over the road does he get a nose to

the inside Russell gets just happen nice

job mate Red Bull right now a shadow of

them former themselves in

2023 he will keep the par up he cannot

do two stops Russ canot do two stops

yeah he's managing a lot he's very slow

he's trying to back it up okay Russell

1.3 behind Lando left time 40.3 then you

got Hamilton 396 P4 then Charles P5 395

then the St and 414 slowing the old

field down so we want to do the St and

space or what

Target 40.3 just keep keep an eye on

these tires go to

the dri he just big time Russell's got

to just attack now hasn't he I want to

this wi yeah we understand we're on the

same page mate will go to two stops but

right now they cannot do it and Midfield

lap time

39.6 so chance is P5 around 5 seconds

then there is a 5 Seconds Gap to Max and

another 5 Second to Cho and the Midfield

is hold up by Cho

behind yeah I tell you he just together

with Fernando same lap time 30.8 let me

know when you think it's good to I still

have one second of faing science

reporting he still has a second of pace

in

hand if you can 40.0 40.0 but keeping R

behind obviously that's a long

so 20 laps to go you're doing his

mega no

no and he will park up his out double

yellow turn 1 2 3 safety car window

could be a safety car the losing the

four position good we are in are we

doing opposite can anyone gamble on a

pit stop so VC VSC Bo opposite I want to

go for the win box opposite you

confirm box opposite confirm box

opposite

I want a box opposite confir just let us

let us control this box

opposite

St and the Mercedes drivers have elected

to give up track position at a street

circuit and to make moves to try and

fight for victory in Singapore so VC

ending Strat seven and we want to PO end

po the Mercedes had an extra set of the

medium tires compared to their Rivals

around them they have elected to use it

and remember why Carlos SS was backing

up Russell they didn't want to allow

this Mercedes onto this tire the

Mercedes are going to have to use a lot

of the life of those new medium tires to

bring themselves onto the back of lir

how about L Norris never won a Grand

Prix never won a Grand Prix one second

off the lead it is brilliantly poised

Target time to win the race I don't know

size looking 366 currently now we're

seeing some Pace it's Russell charging

SS already smashed his best lap of the

race in as

well need2 can till the end oh that's

not what you want to hear you want to

hear it's all good it's all kushy you're

on for a win 14 laps to go find a little

bit

more 13.5 behind

13.5 Charles and Norris and Charles left

time 385 8.5 okay okay so don't put too

much stress because it's quite

understood yeah sorry about that if

George Russell can clear the Scarlet

Ferrari ahead he's got a chance to win

this race

what is quite low

388 and uh Russell is 7.5 behind and

here we go with George with the DRS now

down to seven a little bit too far back

surely and that'll just hold him back

Lewis will get within a second of

Russell unless George can start putting

some moves up and George Russell is

close now ah he's got an opportunity

this is his first real run on the

Ferrari driver ahead he will know it go

to the outside line says charlot Clair

but then it's the Up and Under attempt

from George Russell George Russell's got

a chance now to win this Grand Prix cuz

he's fought his way by and he's taken

third place now Russell pass Char and

land the 1.4 behind you and Russell is

the car behind 6 seconds it's really in

the balance now Russell will get there

he's going to get there before the last

lap Russell is 5.7 behind

caros signs's hope for victory here is

called Lando Norris it's all about

whether the McLaren driver can fight to

keep these two behind Okay so can SS

back into Norris to give Norris DRS to

help him defend from Russell is that the

next curve

ball cop is 1.1 1.4 now Russell 2.7 as

he gets close if he can get DS suggested

L8 behind with DRS r no

DRS cop that scien is trying to give

Norris DRS guys are

finished it wor time there is a massive

moment coming here either Russell is

going to get by Norris or Hamilton is

going to have a chance to be the lead

Mercedes anyone battling who isn't

battling against Carlos signs could hand

the Spanish driver the victory trophy

four laps remain in science is reporting

his tires are finished I'll leave you to

this the top four are nearly glued

together all of the catching has been

done by George Russell it's now passing

to try and win the Grand Prix Norris is

struggling to turn the car as well

Russell's going to have a chance here

now this is where George Russell was

able to set up the move before he's

really close this time Russell having

the defensive shape thrown but now

there's an opportunity to stand on the

power the two British drivers go wheel

tohe George Russell trying to fight his

way by will that be the inside line now

Norris gets his elbows out and that

could have won the race for Carlos signs

good job from Lando there 1.5 y terrifi

k off this is on the limit for the

podium places for the win Norris no

longer has DRS to try and

defend up still go Lando be 1.2 and

Lando Norris now he's got the DRS he's

got the DRS there signs dropping back to

try and help them Russell's defending

from Hamilton now and that's costing him

and Hamilton the inside oh my word

suddenly the pendulum looked like he was

swinging Mercedes way it's gone back to

Ferrari two laps to go andando with the

r one second behind Russell is close

Norris will have the DRS but Russell is

closed can he shift the McLaren offline

I don't think he can he's too far back

George needs to pick up the face if you

can up towards turn 14 this is another

chance right this is everything for

George Russell and leis Hamilton is

gaining Russell has taken so much from

his medium compound of tires this is it

this is it for the Grand Prix win if

Mercedes are going to claim it Red

Bull's Invincible run is over but which

team will be lifting the trophy will it

be Ferrari will it be McLaren will it be

Mercedes it looks like the two Mercedes

are going to have a battle on the final

Podium place on the last lap be St five

overtake the final lap and 1.1 and last

lap used Patrick Lando Norris does not

have DRS now now look how close Russell

is but SS's tactical awareness May well

have won in this Grand Prix still

pushing the wi Russ off George Russell

into the wall and out of the ring race

and the Battle For the Win is

over oh no

no what what

a oh my goodness rle in the wall at 10

head down you Corners to

the the wall keep trying mate keep

trying is this the last

time Formula 1 at its absolute finest

Carlos signs tactical Brilliance Carlos

signs the winner of the Singapore Grand

Prix and B one baby b

one conratulations

what a mega job you did there what a

smart race you know what this is my

first smooth operation in

Kate

smoo that was perfect guys perfect

weekend come on you need it a of action

there to protect from the

merch and enjoy the fireworks and the

podium Ricky we want Singapore my friend

great

cry

the1 say it again and the pit Lane and

P1 again again P1

P1

[Music]