Victory for Lando Norris at Singapore Grand Prix
Lando Norris clinched a momentous victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, an achievement that came after eight attempts starting from pole position. Norris held the lead into Turn 1 and maintained it throughout the first lap, showcasing a performance of unyielding consistency and speed.
Norris brought his car home with a final winning margin of 20.945 seconds, a significant buffer that highlighted his dominance over the race. Despite a moment of uncertainty on Lap 45, where he had a close brush with the wall at Turn 10, Norris remained composed and ensured that his lead remained unchallenged.
“Just chill out, bring this car home.” These calming words from race engineer Will Joseph epitomized the methodical and calculated approach Norris maintained throughout the contest.
With this victory, Norris remains 52 points behind Max Verstappen in the championship standings, with six races and two sprint events remaining in the season. This result keeps him within striking distance although the championship lead remains considerable.
Piastri and Ricciardo's Mixed Fortunes
Oscar Piastri also put in a commendable performance, finishing third after starting from sixth position. His drive was marked by precision and resilience, exemplifying his growing prowess on the track.
In stark contrast, Daniel Ricciardo experienced a tumultuous race, starting from a lower position and finishing 18th. However, Ricciardo managed to set the fastest lap on the race's final circuit. Unfortunately, he didn't earn a bonus point as he did not finish among the top ten.
Team principal Laurent Mekies reflected on Ricciardo's performance: “Given this may have been Daniel's last race, we wanted to give him the chance to savour it and go out with the fastest lap.” Ricciardo's fastest lap inadvertently prevented Norris and McLaren from gaining a bonus championship point, a small but notable detail in the broader picture of the race.
Ricciardo's departure seems indicative of a broader power struggle within Red Bull. There have been suggestions that Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson might replace Ricciardo post-Singapore. Christian Horner commented on the situation, saying, “We’ve now got a period of time where we'll evaluate all of the relevant performances of the drivers. It is a natural break in the season to reflect on that, and there's a bigger picture obviously, beyond Daniel. So he's just one part of the jigsaw.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s reaction to Ricciardo’s strategy was notably pointed: “That's a nice A- /B-Team sporting thing that I didn't think was allowed ... but hey, that's not the first time we've seen it, probably won't be the last.” Brown elaborated further, “I'll certainly ask some questions. It's something I've spoken about in the past, and I think it illustrates that it does happen, because I think you wouldn't have made that pit stop to go for that. It's not going to get anyone a point, so I think it does illustrate the issue around that topic.”
Ricciardo Reflects on His Career
Daniel Ricciardo's reflections on potentially his final race were tinged with both gratitude and realism. “I'm proud of the career. I tried to become world champion, I tried to become the best at something in the world,” Ricciardo remarked. He continued, “I think it is a tall task that we ask from ourselves, some achieve it, some don't, in the end if I came up a little short I also can't be too hard on myself, happy with the effort I put in and for that there's no sadness or feeling of regret or what could have been.”
Max Verstappen offered a tribute to his former teammate: “He's a great guy, honestly. We always had a great relationship. We had a sporting rivalry in the team. He will be remembered as a great driver, as a great person also. He has a great character. I think it's very rare if someone hates him.”
Ricciardo's final recognition as Driver of the Day was particularly poignant for him: “I'll be honest, I don't think the Driver of the Day normally means much to us drivers. It's nice, but it's not something to brag about, but I think today ... the fans read the media and know this could be my last one so I think that's a really nice gesture from them and today it is appreciated.”
As the season continues, the dynamics and narratives within the teams will undoubtedly evolve, but for now, Lando Norris' victory at Singapore remains a significant highlight, with his brilliant performance leaving an indelible mark on the 2023 Formula 1 calendar.