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What a breathtaking incredible race the 2023 Singapore GP turned out to be. There was already plenty of excitement when the top ten on the starting grid did not feature any Red Bulls for the first time in the season. Now, with Carlos Sainz starting from the front, there was already a lot of excitement for Ferrari fans. However, no one could’ve imagined the Singapore GP reviving CarLando, you know, the old Sainz and Lando Norris partnership. In fact, the happy feelings all fans felt after the two beat both the Mercedes for a 1-2 finish, Sainz felt the same with his post-race interview as proof.

The Ferrari man used all his tactical knowledge to keep the Mercedes threat at bay during the last stint of the race and up till the very end. However, for this, he needed the help of his old McLaren teammate and it worked brilliantly. Speaking in the post-race presser, as seen on X, Sainz talked about how it felt like beating Norris and sharing a podium with him once again.

Sainz said, “It always feels a bit better when you have someone that you get on well with and that you respect, both as a driver and as an athlete.”

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And added, “As a person, it always feels better to share those good moments. And don’t get me wrong, I think if he would have had a chance to pass me at any point he would have gone for it, for the win.”

Read More: “It Was Bromance With Lando”: Norris’ Invaluable Impact Comes to Light as Carlos Sainz Languishes at Ferrari

Even though the origin might’ve been juvenile, the bromance between the two has matured. This appreciation wasn’t one-sided as well. Norris reciprocated these feelings of mutual respect toward Sainz.

Lando Norris credits old mate Carlos Sainz for a positive result in the Singapore GP

Norris has become one of the fastest drivers on the grid, thanks to the upgrades to his MCL60. However, he would not have been able to hold off the Mercedes threat on his old grainy hard tires.

This is where Sainz’s contribution was monumental to not only his but also Norris’s race toward the end. Without Sainz using all his brains during the race, Norris wouldn’t be celebrating another podium and he knows it as well. This is exactly why he communicated his gratitude toward Sainz in the post-race interview.

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He said, “Carlos was very generous, trying to help me get DRS. It helped my race and helped his. We knew it would be tough when Mercedes boxed.”

That is exactly the idea all along, and Sainz applied this strategy to perfection and outsmarted the entire Mercedes team. If he hadn’t with his and Norris’s old hard tires with a depleting grip would’ve become victim to the fresh medium tires of the Mercedes men.

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WATCH THIS STORY: McLaren F1 Boss Uses Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo to Highlight Major Flaws With Red Bull Racing

What a fairytale way to revive CarLando. The two amigos on the podium definitely added a cheery on top of the already incredible Singapore GP.

Written by

Mahim Suhalka

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Mahim Suhalka is a senior F1 Author at EssentiallySports. Having written over 1000 articles, Mahim specializes in core sports coverage. Having followed the sport for a long time, his articles contain excellent analysis of the sport and he dives deeper into the technicalities of this complex sport.
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Edited by

Akash Pandhare