Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius

OPINION: Carlos Sainz ended Red Bull's season-long Formula 1 winning streak with a sublime display of tactical awareness at the Singapore Grand Prix, using Lando Norris to hold back the Mercedes pairing. But there was much more to this victory than DRS trickery

Updated Sep 21, 2023, 10:16 AM

Carlos Sainz’s victory in the Singapore Grand Prix was a driving and tactical masterclass, using every tool in his repertoire to keep the defensive line intact behind him as Mercedes tried to break through. His intelligence in keeping Lando Norris within DRS range, even dropping back after the McLaren lost some ground fighting with George Russell, got all the praise it duly deserved from both within and outside his team.

But while Sainz’s triumph in breaking Red Bull’s stranglehold on F1 victories was all about how well he drove on Sunday, the roots of his success can really be traced back to the humbling Ferrari took at his home Spanish Grand Prix months ago.

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Author Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble is Motorsport.com’s Formula 1 editor. Having graduated from University of Sussex Jonathan worked for sports news agency Collings Sports reporting on F1, F3, touring cars and other sports, with articles appearing in The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Reuters, Autosport and other publications. In 1999 he moved to Haymarket Publishing to become a senior editor at Autosport Special Projects, and one year later he became Autosport’s grand prix editor. In 2015 he moved to Motorsport Network, becoming the F1 editor for Motorsport.com. He is also a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and sits on the FIA Media Council.