Ferrari's Carlos Sainz wins F1 Singapore Grand Prix, ends Max Verstappen's run

Sainz bags his 1st win of 2023 season

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz won Sunday's Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix to end Max Verstappen and Red Bull's run in the 2023 season.

Spain's Sainz saw the checkered flag first at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, finishing the 62-lap race in one hour, 46 minutes, and 37.418 seconds to take his and Ferrari's first win of this season.

Sainz also ended Verstappen's record-breaking 10-race winning streak and the Dutch driver's team Red Bull's domination.

Verstappen-led Red Bull Racing won all the previous rounds in the 2023 season.

McLaren's Lando Norris from Great Britain was 0.812 seconds behind Sainz to be the runner-up in Singapore.

Mercedes' British racer Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 champion, came third to complete the podium.

Red Bull's Verstappen, the 2021 and 2022 champion, was fifth at Marina Bay after he started in 11th.

Formula 1 will travel to Japan in Round 17 next weekend as the race will be run on Sept. 24 at the Suzuka International Racing Course.

Verstappen is leading the F1 driver standings with 374 points. His Mexican teammate Sergio Perez is now second with 223 points this season. Verstappen needs a 180-point gap against Perez to clinch the 2023 title, but a maximum of 26 points is available in Japan.

For the Dutch racer, it is more probable to do it in Qatar, at Round 18, on Oct. 8.

This season will end with the Round 23 in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 26.

- Top 5 drivers in 2023 season

1. Max Verstappen (The Netherlands): 374 points

2. Sergio Perez (Mexico): 223

3. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain): 180

4. Fernando Alonso (Spain): 170

5. Carlos Sainz (Spain): 142

- Teams

1. Red Bull: 597

2. Mercedes: 289

3. Ferrari: 265