Carlos Sainz believes Ferrari’s execution of the Singapore Grand Prix which culminated in his victory demonstrates what the team can achieve with a strong Formula 1 car.
Although Red Bull dominated the most recent season en route to retaining both titles, the reigning champions were denied a historic clean sweep by Sainz’s success.
After converting pole position into a podium at Monza, Sainz and Ferrari capitalised on Red Bull’s struggles at the Marina Bay Circuit to end their rival’s record unbeaten streak.
Ferrari utilised team-mate Charles Leclerc to protect polesitter Sainz’s position in the opening stages of the race, preventing the queue behind from triggering an undercut.
While Leclerc would be undone by a mid-race Safety Car, Sainz tactically slowed down to hand Lando Norris DRS to avoid being overtaken by the charging Mercedes behind.
Asked if Singapore changed how he reflected on the season, Sainz said: “100% it has to affect the year because it’s not like we had many chances of winning a race this year.
“And the fact that it appeared in Singapore and we took it and we didn’t waste one single opportunity there and we maximised FP1, FP2, FP3, quali, Q1, Q2, Q3 and the race was I think a huge accomplishment – not only for me but also for the team, to prove to the team that when the opportunity arrives next year we are able to win.
“We were under pressure that weekend, because it was our only weekend maybe to fight for a win – in combination with maybe Vegas, but this we didn’t know at the time – and the fact we maximised it, we performed, we didn’t fail under pressure and we put together that weekend I think is a great showing that next year we are capable of doing things if we get a good car.”
Ferrari had opened the campaign unstuck with an evolution of last year’s race-winning F1-75 car, but the move to a downwash sidepod solution in Canada and further understanding of its troubled SF-23 challenger improved its competitiveness.
Despite the Italian marque still being susceptible to wild performance swings, Sainz is convinced that Ferrari maximised more opportunities with its package in 2023.
“It feels exactly that way on the inside,” the Spaniard answered when he was pressed to discuss Ferrari’s improved consistency aligning with a shift in the team’s approach.
“We acknowledge the package we have, we understood it and now we just put it on track and try to maximise it each weekend and I think we are doing a much better job of that.
“It’s not easy because it’s mentally challenging to understand how in Vegas you can outqualify the Red Bull by three-tenths and fight for the win and then go to Brazil and then be a second off the pace in race pace. It’s almost unbelievable that these swings in performance can happen, but it’s the Formula 1 of nowadays.
“We need to make sure we have more Vegas and Singapores next year and we understand why the car there is strong and why it’s so weak in other types of circuits and corners.”
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