The Singapore Grand Prix saw the end of Red Bull Racing’s season-long dominant run, leaving fans with a thrilling showdown between Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton.
Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz described this race as a rare moment when a dominant car, akin to Red Bull’s RB19, was “humbled” on the track.
Throughout the season, Red Bull had been unstoppable, with Max Verstappen frequently securing victories by substantial margins.
However, their remarkable streak came to an abrupt end in Singapore.
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Both Verstappen and Sergio Perez struggled with handling issues, specifically citing difficulties with rear-end grip and a pointy front end, which prevented them from challenging for the top positions.
As Red Bull’s star drivers found themselves near the lower end of the top ten, a mesmerising battle unfolded at the front of the grid.
Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton engaged in a fierce contest for the race win, reminiscent of the sport’s most thrilling moments, harking back to the 2021 season.
The quartet of drivers maintained a relentless pace, with mere seconds separating them throughout the race.
Sainz strategically held off Norris, not to fend off the Mercedes challengers but to facilitate DRS (Drag Reduction System) for Norris in his defence against the pursuing Mercedes cars.
In a heart-pounding finish, Sainz crossed the finish line just 0.8 seconds ahead of Norris, while Hamilton trailed by a mere half-second. George Russell’s valiant pursuit of third place ended in a dramatic crash on the final lap.
This epic battle resonated deeply with Formula 1 enthusiasts, reigniting their passion for the sport.
Even Ted Kravitz, renowned for his impartial reporting, couldn’t contain his excitement, exclaiming, “It was just fun, wasn’t it? It was fun.”
Addressing those who might attribute this intense race to Red Bull’s temporary struggles, Kravitz acknowledged the team’s dominance but emphasised that such thrilling races could become a regular occurrence if other teams were given the opportunity.
He quoted Max Verstappen’s post-race sentiments, where Verstappen expressed determination to return stronger, saying:
“After the race, Max said ‘we’ll let them have one, and then we’re going to be back to crush them’… in Suzuka where the car is we think going to be better.
“Is it? Is it gonna be better? Do we know that? We will find out.”
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Ted Kravitz went on to highlight the uniqueness of this race by stating, “Never before, maybe with the exception of Mercedes when they were dominant and they had such a terrible Singapore Grand Prix in 2014, 2015, never has a car so dominant in a season, this RB19 wiping all before it, been so humbled in a grand prix.”
Furthermore, Kravitz expressed his curiosity regarding the tactical race management employed by the frontrunners, as they alternated between slow and fast stints.
He pondered whether a different strategy could have changed the outcome, but ultimately praised the race’s entertainment value, concluding, “But it was just entertaining, wasn’t it? It was great at the end.”