A slippy, and hence, a very challenging, Singapore produced a cracker of a race recently. It was a contest where Ferrari were on top. But that was Saturday. Eventually, Red Bull reigned supreme though at the back of Sergio Perez, not Max Verstappen. The Defending world champion, much like the seven time world championship winning hero Hamilton had a race to forget.
Having said that, what moments stood out and perhaps defined Grand Prix racing’s most recent spectacle?
KyroSports have that covered for you!
Smooth Operator Sainz’s well controlled drive– started P4 ended P3
At the 2019 Singapore GP, Sainz had begun from seventh on the grid, the Spanish driver then with McLaren. But even then, he has outpaced his then-teammate Lando Norris (who had begun from ninth on the grid).
But that was then; the Singapore Formula 1 contest in those pre-Covid days or as they say, the pre-Covid era.
This time around, the noted Madrid-born began his Singapore night run from fourth on the grid.
He would eventually end third in completing a Ferrari 2 and 3 even as his teammate, the pole sitter for the 2022 race at Marina Bay, lost out to Red Bull.
Despite of the hits and misses of a weekend that ideally should’ve belonged to the Scuderia since they had the front row start, Sainz’s contribution shouldn’t be forgotten.
And that’s not only down to the fact that he helped Ferrari see both their drivers on the podium, which was also the case in 2019 (Vettel and Leclerc), but also because Sainz’s was essentially a recovery drive.
He didn’t seem to have the pace initially; he seemed pretty vulnerable to Hamilton, the Briton pursing the Ferrari driver at several but different instances of the race.
And yet, that Fernando Alonso’s biggest fan on the grid didn’t let the marauding Mercedes pass was evidence of a fine drive. Yes, the errors made by the Silver Arrow ultimately helped Sainz in a way, but what if the rising force at the Scuderia would’ve been complacent?
The Monegasque Charles Leclerc’s fighting finish on the podium– started P1 ended P2
The Singapore Grand Prix of 2022 would certainly have offered a mixed bag sort of feeling for one of the nicest and most capable drivers out there on the grid: the Monegasque Charles Leclerc.
The pole sitter on October 2, 2022 just couldn’t convert a front row start into a win, despite having giving it absolutely everything on a Saturday marred by inclement weather.
Interestingly- and it ought to be remembered- Leclerc was on pole position here as well back in 2019.
Even that fine start to the race didn’t culminate in a win. But did Ferrari help the legendary Vettel in some way, the German a four time winner at the famous F1 venue?
Well that’s a debate for another day. What isn’t, however, and mustn’t be, is that soon as the lights turned green, the famous Monaco driver found himself challenged by the Red Bull of Sergio Perez; the Mexican wasting no time whatsoever in whistling past the SF1-75 despite the track being splintered by water thanks to what was a torrential outpour.
Yet, make no mistake; it’s not that Leclerc didn’t try his best; he went for his chances – scant that they may have been; he tried to get back the track leader position chasing down the determined Mexican he was battling but in the end, it wasn’t enough.
We are in an age where criticism is offer to give but a constructive line of thought, maybe not so much.
Having said that, Leclerc must think of a way to get his A game out there in the wet; something that the likes of both Red Bulls and the experienced old guards like Hamilton and Alonso still possess.
Chin up, Charles. You tried. But hey, do think about this- will you?
Mexican Tom Cruise Perez shines- started P2 ended winning the race
Earlier this year, Sergio Perez won the Monaco Grand Prix even when he wasn’t on pole. Yet, he’d find a way to cross the checkered flag 1.15 seconds ahead of the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz.
Interestingly, he’d begun the race from third on the grid.
This time around, he finished on the top step of Singapore despite not having pole position, such an advantage particularly for street races.
In so doing, Perez bested both Ferraris especially that of Singapore pole sitter Charles Leclerc.
That must have been a great feeling.
What ought to be noted is that prior to the start of the wet and wild Singapore contest, there were quite a few fans roaring for “Checo,” as he’s called. In the end, the ballsy drive from a driver so often underrated would’ve made fans (both at Singapore and back home in Mexico) utterly happy.
And who wouldn’t want such a joyous sight particularly after a back breaking run of 61 consecutive laps and that too, under the enormity of pressure thanks to nonstop rains?
Spare a thought for the legendary samurai Fernando Alonso – started 5 ended DNF
The man they all call the samurai. The Spanish Samurai, to be precise, started in gung-ho fashion from P5, the best qualifying result for any Alpine driver at Singapore.
Yet, despite giving it all, and defending valiantly from none other than Max Verstappen for no fewer than ten laps and maybe even more, (wish my calculation skills were as sound as Horner’s where it comes to team strategy), Alonso managed a DNF in the end.
And it wasn’t even his fault; a last minute engine issue that none saw coming played a race of a true champion, one who had truly driven like one all night at Singapore!
What we must all laud Fernando Alonso for is that he broke a massive record at the 2022 Singapore GP: that of being the most experienced F1 driver. The most recent Formula 1 race (Marina Bay) was the double world champion’s 350th Grand Prix start.
In doing so, a true Titan of the sport overtook another: Kimi Matias Raikkonen, the Iceman.