Brundle: Sainz the maestro in Singapore as Red Bull come unstuck

Martin Brundle Expert Analyst @MBrundleF1 Martin Brundle on the Singapore GP: Carlos Sainz the maestro at Marina Bay as Red Bull come unstuck Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle reviews the Singapore GP as Carlos Sainz gives Ferrari their first win since July 2022 after Red Bull finally faltered in 2023; Lando Norris' day "will surely come" after another podium while George Russell must overcome the hurt of crashing out on final lap Last Updated: 19/09/23 6:19am Carlos Sainz won the Singapore GP narrowly ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle delivers his expert verdict on the Singapore GP weekend as Carlos Sainz delivers a masterful drive to give Ferrari a long-awaited win after Red Bull finally falter in 2023. What a run of recent races we've had in Formula 1. Rainy and unpredictable Zandvoort, super high-speed and dry Monza, and then the never-ending twists and turns in the humidity of Singapore. Three more different venues you'd struggle to find and we've witnessed hard racing from first to last place at all of them.Carlos Sainz was the star in Monza in his Ferrari albeit only finishing third on that occasion, but in Singapore, he was the maestro from pole position to chequered flag. As he said, "I had the headspace and pace in the car to control the race". The way he decided to use Lando Norris's McLaren as a roadblock to two fast Mercedes closing in at a ridiculous rate, by slowing down to ensure Norris had the use of the rear wing DRS open, was as risky as it was brilliant. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights of the Singapore Grand Prix from the Marina Bay Street Circuit Highlights of the Singapore Grand Prix from the Marina Bay Street Circuit The Ferrari strategy started from corner one when Sainz led and his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who started on the grippy racing line on the right-hand side of the grid on soft compound tyres, was able to seize second place from George Russell's impressive qualifying lap and front-row grid slot.The Ferraris could now protect their tyres at a relative snail's pace ensuring the whole pack of 19 starters stayed together which prevented drivers behind lunging for the pits to gain advantage on fresh tyres. Sometimes those kinds of races can develop into the calm before further calm as everybody manages their race, but the storm definitely arrived on Sunday evening and it was well worth waiting for.It was the 14th Singapore Grand Prix and every previous race had been interrupted at least once by a Safety Car, although curiously never by a red-flag stoppage. As it's lined entirely by walls and protective fencing, without a complete service road as you'd find at permanent circuits, and with strategic but not particularly numerous service exits, a car or its discarded parts are highly likely to end up close to the racing line and need marshals and machines on the track to sort it out. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Ted Kravitz is in the paddock as he reviews all the biggest stories from the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Ted Kravitz is in the paddock as he reviews all the biggest stories from the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Over a quarter of these incidents in the past happened at four corners which no longer exist on the newly shortened layout, and given rain was not expected we wondered if this race might get a cleaner run.However, Logan Seargent's trip into the wall on lap 19 would generate the first Safety Car to clear debris and this was good timing for those at the front to get a cheap stop, time-wise, and change tyres.The problem for Ferrari was that they were running closely first and second and there's only one pit-stop rig per team. Leclerc backed up the pack to make some space, for which you have to be careful not to get a penalty for unfair impeding, and it looked to me that he overestimated what he had to do because he was quite a long way from his garage when Sainz departed. Then having to wait for others to pass by before being released cost him two places and pretty much ruined his race in terms of full potential.Red Bull come unstuck on Marina Bay's streets Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player George Russell, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton all pass Max Verstappen as his weekend continues to go from bad to worse! George Russell, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton all pass Max Verstappen as his weekend continues to go from bad to worse! Red Bull had started from 11th and 13th after a miserable two days of running. The car which had stuck to the road like a gecko wading through superglue this season to date, suddenly looked almost undriveable. The tea