Carlos Sainz, starting from pole position, executed a brilliant strategy that denied his competitors any chance to catch up. He expertly managed his tires and, in a show of sportsmanship, supported his former teammate Lando Norris by allowing him to stay within the DRS (drag reduction system) range, effectively fending off the pursuing Mercedes team.
In a dramatic turn of events, George Russell of Mercedes, armed with fresher tires, was pushing hard for the win but crashed on the final lap, allowing Lewis Hamilton to inherit the podium position and secure the fastest lap.
Sainz, reflecting on his performance, exclaimed, “We executed the race perfectly.” He crossed the finish line with an impressive 0.812-second lead to claim his second career victory for Ferrari, his first since the Silverstone Grand Prix last year. He continued, “We did everything according to plan. We delivered flawlessly, bringing home a first-place finish that I’m certain will make all of Italy and Ferrari proud and jubilant today.”
The Spaniard masterfully extended the life of his hard tires for an astonishing 42 laps, clinching victory at the slowest possible pace. This triumph marked Ferrari’s first win since Charles Leclerc’s victory in Austria in July of the previous year.
Red Bull’s incredible 15-race winning streak came to an end on this fateful Sunday, primarily due to their failure to secure a top-10 qualifying position at a circuit where overtaking, much like Monaco, is an arduous task. Max Verstappen, the double world champion, started from the 11th position under the dazzling Singaporean floodlights and finished in fifth place. His Mexican teammate, Sergio Perez, who won in Singapore last year, settled for eighth.
While Verstappen extended his overall lead to 151 points, it is not substantial enough for him to clinch the championship title in Japan next weekend.
Source: with agencies