Carlos Sainz is the toast of Singapore, while Red Bull’s underperformance also made headlines. Keep up to date with all the latest F1 news in PlanetF1.com’s round-up.
Sainz’s exemplary driving at Marina Bay is, understandably, the big news of the day as reaction to Sunday’s race rumbles. Add in Red Bull’s poor weekend, podiums from Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, and a major driving error from George Russell, and it was quite a busy day!
So, if you haven’t already, read up on the top F1 news from Monday here on PlanetF1.com!
Lewis Hamilton has a theory about Red Bull’s underperformance
With Red Bull failing to secure a podium as their unbeaten run in 2023 came to an abrupt end in Singapore, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton had a theory as to why the world champions fell to the boil.
Rather than having anything to do with the new technical directive, Hamilton believes it is simply down to Red Bull shifting their focus to next year.
“Probably, if you think about it, they didn’t develop,” he said.
“Obviously McLaren brought an update here, others are bringing updates.
“They are working on next year’s car, so… they have less time in the wind tunnel, so they will probably use some of this year’s car for next year’s, they would definitely have migrated before us.
“So no, I think it’s just one of the things. They are so far ahead that maybe they are developing their car less and we are still pushing to develop the current one. But time will tell.”
To know more: Lewis Hamilton offers a theory for Red Bull’s poor performance in Singapore
George Russell faces ‘steep learning curve’ after Singapore incident
After falling from third place on the final lap of the race, Toto Wolff revealed he would use comfort, not criticism, in addressing Russell’s costly mistake.
But while Russell won’t be chastised for wasting such a valuable points finish, Wolff explained that the mistake is part of the young British driver’s education to become a more complete competitor.
“Of course, George is a real pilot and he is devastated,” Wolff told reporters in Singapore.
“Quite a steep, steep learning curve and we’ve hit some situations, second year with Mercedes and it won’t happen again unless it’s a win or a championship. But obviously he is very upset.”
To know more: ‘Devastated’ George Russell faces ‘steep learning curve’ after last-lap crash in Singapore
PlanetF1.com recommends
F1 Driver of the Day: Who won the award in F1 2023?
Fastest lap in F1: Which drivers won the most points on the fastest lap in F1 2023?
Martin Brundle’s grid gaffe reported by Oscar Piastri
Attentive Sky F1 viewers may have picked up on Martin Brundle’s inadvertent snub towards Oscar Piastri during his pre-race grid march. Speaking to the young Australian driver before the race, Brundle became distracted when Esteban Ocon passed in front of him: the experienced broadcaster called to wish Ocon a happy birthday, forgetting about his interviewee in the process.
As Piastri walked away to get into his car, the McLaren rookie couldn’t help but mock Brundle on Twitter afterwards.
“Shall we finish the interview with Suzuka, Martin Brundle?” he wrote, before adding: “FWIW, I would have done the same. Happy Birthday Esteban Ocon.”
Brundle, acknowledging his mistake, apologized for leaving Piastri high and dry.
“Um, yeah, sorry about that Oscar, it wasn’t my best moment on the grid in 26 years,” he said.
“I just wanted to wish Esteban a happy birthday as he strode past, but you were DRS open and full of drums and rightly dropped me like an Aussie Rules newbie.”
To know more: Oscar Piastri meets Martin Brundle after the Sky pundit’s “not the best moment on the grid”.
Will Lance Stroll be back in the car for Japan?
After suffering a horrific crash on Saturday, Aston Martin has decided to withdraw Lance Stroll from the race to give him more rest and recovery time ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Team boss Mike Krack spoke about Stroll’s condition after the team’s poor weekend, the first non-points race this year, and explained that there is no chance Stroll will miss Suzuka.
“He’s sore in general,” the team boss told media in Singapore.
“If you have an accident like that, you still stress your muscles. The analogy is that if you have a really hard day at the gym, even then you don’t feel good, so that’s where we’re at.
“I think it’s the right decision to be ready for Japan because it’s already a couple of days away.
The important thing is that he is well and everything else is secondary.”
To know more: Lance Stroll update provided after the Aston Martin driver missed the Singapore GP
Christian Horner has a little dig at Mercedes as Red Bull finishes the race
With Red Bull’s unbeaten run in 2023 coming to an end in Singapore, Christian Horner couldn’t resist taking a little dig at Mercedes’ Toto Wolff’s “Wikipedia” jibe from Monza.
In what will surely be just the latest in a joke that is set to last and run, Horner praised Verstappen’s form and said winning 10 consecutive victories was completely unexpected for Red Bull.
“For Max to have won 10 straight is crazy,” he said.
“The last time a driver did something like this was Sebastian in one of our cars. Incredibly proud to have the first and second most successful drivers in Formula 1.
“While statistics apparently don’t matter, are the ones we as a team are incredibly proud of and to have made it this far, to have broken the record since 1988, shows how difficult it is to achieve the kind of supremacy we have achieved this year. And this is the testimony of all those who do and play their part.”
To know more: Christian Horner jokes “stats apparently don’t matter” as Red Bull’s race ends
The article Lewis Hamilton’s Red Bull theory revealed as Oscar Piastri sets date with Martin Brundle – F1 news roundup appeared first on Planetf1.com.