Honestly, if you look back at the 2023 Formula 1 season, it was basically the "Max Verstappen Show." The guy was untouchable. Red Bull was untouchable. They arrived at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on a historic 15-race winning streak, and Max himself had won ten in a row. It felt inevitable. Then, the heat of Singapore happened.
The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix wasn't just another race on the calendar; it was the glitch in the Matrix. It was the only time all year that a non-Red Bull driver stood on the top step of the podium. For a brief, humid evening under the floodlights, the dominant force of the decade looked human.
What Really Happened With the Red Bull Meltdown?
Most people think Red Bull just had a "bad day," but it was deeper than that. The RB19 was a masterpiece, but it had a kryptonite: bumpy street circuits and low-speed 90-degree corners. From Friday practice, Max was complaining that the car felt like it was "sliding on ice."
They couldn't get the ride height right. If they ran it low for aero, the floor smashed into the bumps. If they raised it, they lost the downforce. By the time qualifying rolled around, both Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez were dumped out in Q2. It was shocking. Liam Lawson—the rookie filling in for Daniel Ricciardo—actually knocked Max out of the top ten by seven-thousandths of a second.
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Imagine the reigning world champion starting 11th on a track where overtaking is notoriously a nightmare.
The Tactical Genius of Carlos Sainz
While Red Bull was spiraling, Carlos Sainz was putting on a clinic. He took pole position and knew exactly what he had to do. Singapore is a "track position" race. You don't necessarily need to be the fastest; you just need to be in front and stay there.
Sainz didn't just drive fast. He drove smart. Sorta like a chess grandmaster at 200 mph.
The DRS Trick
This is the part everyone talks about. In the final ten laps, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were charging on fresh medium tires. They were eating up the gap to the leaders. Sainz was leading, with Lando Norris in second.
Instead of pulling away, Sainz intentionally slowed down. He kept Norris within one second of him. Why? To give Norris DRS (Drag Reduction System). By giving his rival a speed boost on the straights, Sainz ensured that Norris could defend against the Mercedes duo.
"It’s on purpose," Sainz told his engineer over the radio.
It was a massive gamble. If Norris had made a mistake, he could have easily overtaken Sainz. But the Spaniard trusted his former teammate to play the "wingman" role perfectly. It worked.
Heartbreak for George Russell
You've got to feel for George Russell. He was the one who pushed Mercedes to "roll the dice" and pit for fresh tires during a Virtual Safety Car period on lap 44. It was a brilliant strategy call that gave them a massive pace advantage.
The silver cars were flying. They passed Charles Leclerc like he was standing still. With two laps to go, it was a four-car train for the win: Sainz, Norris, Russell, Hamilton. All separated by less than two seconds.
Then, disaster.
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On the very last lap, while hounding Norris for second place, Russell clipped the wall at Turn 10. A millimeter lapse in concentration. The car went straight into the Tecpro barriers. Race over. His screams over the radio—a mix of rage and pure heartbreak—pretty much summed up the intensity of the night.
2023 Singapore Grand Prix: Results and Key Details
The race was held on September 17, 2023, and saw a slightly revised track layout. The construction at "The Float" meant Turns 16 through 19 were removed and replaced with a long 397.9m straight. This change actually made the race a bit faster and reduced the number of corners from 23 down to 19.
- Winner: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Second Place: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Third Place: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
- Attendance: 264,108 fans over the weekend.
Max Verstappen eventually clawed his way back to 5th, which was actually a decent recovery drive, but the streak was dead. Ferrari’s victory ended Red Bull’s dream of a "perfect" 22-race season.
Why This Race Still Matters for Fans
The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix proved that F1 isn't just about who has the fastest car. It's a sport of variables. Humidity, tire degradation, and the mental tax of racing between concrete walls for two hours change everything.
It also solidified Liam Lawson's reputation. Scoring points (P9) in only his third-ever race, at the most physical track on the grid, showed he belonged in a permanent seat.
Actionable Insights for F1 Enthusiasts
If you’re looking to understand the technical side of why this race was an outlier, keep these points in mind:
- Ground Effect Limitations: The 2023-era cars relied heavily on a stable "platform." On bumpy street circuits, teams like Red Bull that prioritize aerodynamic efficiency often struggle with mechanical grip.
- The "Under-Cutting" Myth: In Singapore, the "over-cut" (staying out longer) can often be more powerful if you can manage tire temperatures during a Safety Car, as we saw with the leaders.
- Physicality: Drivers lose up to 3kg of body weight in fluid during this race. Watch the post-race "cool down" room footage next time; they look absolutely spent compared to a race like Monza or Spa.
The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix remains a masterclass in defensive driving and strategic risk-taking. It reminded us that even in a season of total dominance, anything can happen when the lights go out in the city.
For those tracking the technical evolution of the sport, study the 2023 Ferrari floor updates introduced just before this race. They provided the stability Sainz needed to attack the curbs, a luxury the Red Bull drivers simply didn't have that weekend. Reviewing the telemetry from Sainz's final five laps reveals a level of "lift and coast" that was perfectly calculated to keep the pack behind him bunched up—a strategy that is now frequently cited by driver academies as the benchmark for race management.