The Scuderia Ferrari HP team and its drivers ran another perfectly executed race in Singapore. Charles managed to make up four places to finish fifth and Carlos Sainz, taking part today in his 200th Grand Prix, finished five places higher than he started, seventh after dropping down to 12th off the line. Leclerc in particular, once he had pitted for tyres and with a clear track ahead of him, was able to lap at the same pace as the leaders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, suggesting that if qualifying had gone better, he could have fought for the win. With 18 points scored today, the team is third in the Constructors’ classification, the same place Charles occupies in the Drivers’ standings, while Carlos is still fifth.
Split strategy. Charles and Carlos both started on the Medium tyres but their strategies were different. Leclerc got away well, passing Yuki Tsunoda, then tucking in behind Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso, while Sainz lost two places and found himself in a DRS train. The team therefore decided to call him in very early, on la 13, to switch to the Hard tyre, after which he had slower cars to deal with before running pretty much at his own pace. This move, combined with his clever tyre management, meant Sainz got as high as sixth place on lap 43. As for Leclerc, he stayed out until lap 36, one of the last to pit, having managed his Mediums very well. It meant he was able to rejoin eighth, ahead of Hulkenberg on much fresher tyres compared to Alonso, who was only able to keep the Ferrari at bay for two laps. On lap 43, the team switched the drivers round so that Leclerc could set off in pursuit of the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Sainz meanwhile was managing his seventh place, fending off Alonso who never really posed a threat. Charles easily passed Hamilton with ten laps remaining and closed on the other Mercedes five laps from the flag. To overtake at this track requires a big pace difference and by this time Charles’ Hard tyres had given of their best and so he had to settle for fifth. For Carlos also, seventh was the best he could expect today.
Long break. The world championship now takes a break of almost one month with the next round being the United States Grand Prix at Austin on 20 October.
Charles Leclerc #16