Round 15: Singapore
F1i's driver of the weekend: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) - 10/10
Carlos Sainz successfully converted pole into a race victory in the Singapore GP, holding on over McLaren's Lando Norris and a late charge from Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling finish which saw George Russell pushing too hard and crashing out on the final lap. Verstappen and Red Bull's overwhelmingly dominant run in 2023 had finally came to an end, for once unable to overcome a poor qualifying performance and ongoing handling issues.
It was the only race of the season in which a Red Bull driver wasn't victorious, and naturally we garlanded Sainz with a perfect ten for his achievement over his former team mate at McLaren, Lando Norris, who warranted a 9.5 putting him ahead of Hamilton on 9.0 while it was Verstappen's worst rating of the season on a 'mere' 7.5. The Ferrari might not have been the strongest car in Singapore, but Sainz successfully wrung the absolute maximum out of it at every stage.
"He looked strong from the start even when he was pipped to the top spot in first practice by 0.078s by his team mate Charles Leclerc. After that it was Sainz all the way, quickest in FP2 and FP3 and then successfully taking pole by a slender margin from George Russell in the Mercedes. It was the sort of performance we've come to expect from Max Verstappen, but was now being essayed by a man in Italian racing red instead.
"In the past we've seen Ferrari throw away such chances with poor race execution, so would that happen again in Singapore? Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Sunday was the clinical way that Ferrari went about their business, as though all those mistakes and gaffes in the last two years had all been vital data being gathered for just this moment.
"A clever use of Leclerc, and a level-headed no-nonsense approach by Sainz when it came to preserving his tyres, plus a solid strategy to constrict the options of their rivals, and then Sainz backing the pack up and his use of Lando Norris to thwart Mercedes in the closing laps was insanely good thinking by all concerned. Sainz' second F1 career win was without question his most thoroughly well deserved as well as one of the best in modern times for Ferrari."
Round 16: Japan
F1i's driver of the weekend: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 10/10
Back to business as normal in Japan with Max Verstappen enjoying an untroubled run to victory in Japan, his 13th of the season and duly sealing the 2023 constructors championship for Red Bull. McLaren did their best to keep Verstappen honest with Lando Norris finishing second ahead of his team mate Oscar Piastri while Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas all retired with damage, and Lance Stroll was sidelined with a damaged rear wing.
It proved to be the last 'perfect ten' Verstappen would win from us in 2023, with McLaren's Norris and Piastri tied for second on 9.5. We wrote: "When we're compiling the ratings, one of the things we consider is: what could this driver have done any better this week? If the performance was literally flawless, then it makes him a clear candidate for a perfect ten out of ten.
"And this week - hot on the heels of his weakest outing of 2023 in Singapore - Verstappen put in a performance that was literally, provably perfect. He swept all three practice sessions, claimed pole by over half a second from the rest of the field, strong-armed the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to keep the lead at the start of the race, and then cruised off into the distance. He also took the point for pole position for good measure.
"While we really don't like handing out tens like sweets, on this occasion there's no denying that Verstappen has earned himself the right to gorge himself on as much sugared candy as he likes."
