Carlos Sainz brims with belief that he can end Red Bull’s dominance, vows to ‘give everything’ for Singapore GP triumph
Carlos Sainz is gunning for his second win of his career at the Singapore GP.
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Carlos Sainz after his pole position at the Singapore GP (Credits: News9Live.com)
In a spellbinding Singapore Grand Prix qualifying session, Ferrari‘s Carlos Sainz has thrust himself into the pole position, igniting hopes of halting Red Bull and Max Verstappen‘s seemingly unstoppable winning streak this season. Sainz, who’s now secured back-to-back poles, promises an all-out effort to break Red Bull’s dominance.
Carlos Sainz’s dazzling performance not only showcased his speed but also unveiled Ferrari’s strategic play. He shrewdly preserved a set of soft tires during Q2, allowing him to enhance his lap time and seize the coveted pole position. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, exhibited formidable form, initially claiming second place before settling for third, cementing Ferrari’s stronghold at the front of the grid.
In stark contrast, Max Verstappen, the reigning Red Bull titan and championship leader, grappled with unexpected challenges. The team that had ruthlessly dominated the season faced a surprising setback at Marina Bay. Verstappen failed to advance to the final qualifying round (Q3), largely due to a costly mistake in Turn 3. His teammate, Sergio Perez, also faltered, ending up in a disappointing 13th place after a spin.
The qualifying session has now thrust Sainz into the position to challenge Red Bull’s perfect winning record. When probed about his prospects, the Spaniard stated, “If I have a good start and do my own race, then we can take the win. I’m going to give it everything, and hopefully, tomorrow is enough.”
Carlos Sainz acknowledges Mercedes could be their major threat in the race
Ferrari, especially Sainz, has been riding a wave of success since their home Grand Prix. All three practice sessions were painted red, and Sainz acknowledges the team’s unwavering confidence throughout. While several teams stumbled during qualifying, Ferrari held their ground, earning praise from the Spaniard.
The SF23 has been a wild bull this season, yet Scuderia Ferrari adeptly exploits tracks that suit its strengths. Speaking of their newfound pace Sainz said, “It’s a story of the year. We have a very good car in certain tracks and certain conditions, we know our weakness is always race pace but we are definitely making progress.” He claims that their favors the “quick changes of direction, our car seems to be good.”
Sainz is mindful of this as he discusses their race day expectations. Mercedes, seemingly on par with Ferrari, has George Russell in the second spot, a testament to their pace around Marina Bay. The German outfit boasts an extra set of medium tires for the race, potentially giving them an advantage.
This twist in Formula 1’s established hierarchy during qualifying has injected an intriguing element into the upcoming race. As the Singapore Grand Prix unfolds, all eyes will be fixed on Sainz and the Ferraris at the front as they aim to put an end to Red Bull’s relentless dominance. However, it’s evident that Red Bull possesses a formidable race pace and could swiftly maneuver through the field, presenting a genuine threat on race day.
In case you missed it:
- “That was fu**ing shocking,” Max Verstappen goes on a furious rant after his Q2 exit during Singapore qualifying
- McLaren’s Zak Brown responds to Helmut Marko’s controversial comments about Sergio Perez
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Rohit Bhaskar
(727 Articles Published)