18 September 2023 , 06:00
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Perhaps Ferrari should leave all their strategy decisions to Carlos Sainz from now on.
It was his call to keep Lando Norris within arm's length in the final stages of the Singapore Grand Prix, despite his team questioning his pace several times over the radio. But the Spaniard wanted that buffer, wary that George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were charging hard on newer tyres.
It was a risk, but turned out to be a masterstroke. Norris kept the Mercedes cars at bay and left Sainz free to secure his team's first win of the year. Not only that, he is the first man not driving a Red Bull car to win a Formula 1 race in 2023.
It truly was an excellent drive from start to finish for Sainz, who had started on pole for the second race weekend in a row. Even at Monza two weeks ago, when he didn't have the pace to hold off Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, he still secured that podium the home fans desperately craved from Ferrari.
He is proving more and more that he is deserving of his seat with the Italian team. Despite all he has achieved since he joined from McLaren, the feeling is that Sainz has been living in the shadow of Charles Leclerc.
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The Monegasque racer was the child prodigy promoted to Ferrari after just one season in F1 and given a five-year contract. The team was building its future around him and, to be clear, Leclerc has done everything possible with the tools he has been given to repay that faith.
Leclerc is still Ferrari's future. But Sainz can also play a significant role in that – if he stays around. Both drivers are out of contract at the end of next season and, though the current feeling is that Leclerc will stay, Sainz's future is more up in the air.
The Spaniard won't say publicly if he has felt a little neglected by the team, but few could blame him if that is the case deep down. Ferrari insist their drivers are equal, but Leclerc remains the face of the team and the one who, in many cases, has been given more opportunities.
So, with Audi circling ahead of their F1 entry in 2026, Ferrari need to make sure that the Spaniard knows he is appreciated. Especially in his current form, Sainz knows he will most likely not be short of options if he decides he is not going to get a fair crack of the whip at Maranello.
It will be hard for him to leave if it comes to that – like many drivers, racing for Ferrari is his dream. And Sainz is proving to the team that he brings tremendous value that could be lost if Audi or another team can convince him that he will be given the opportunities he deserves.
Will showing more love to Sainz upset Leclerc? Perhaps. But at the moment there seems to be little danger of the Monegasque heading elsewhere, while his team-mate has a very real suitor already in contact with him – and there may yet be more interest to come.