Carlos Sainz's Masterful Performance

What Everyone Can Learn from Carlos Sainz's Masterful Performance at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix

It all started on a beautiful summer night back in 2017 when, quite by chance, two young British tourists offered me a ticket to the Monza Grand Prix. It turned out their friend couldn't make it to Italy at the last minute, and I was the fortunate one to seize the opportunity to attend my first F1 race. Since then, whenever my work schedule permits, I've been following the F1 action on weekends. Initially, I was bewildered by the myriad of intricate rules and regulations, but over time, I became addicted to watching these drivers create excitement on the world's most scenic racetracks.

While there's no doubt that Max Verstappen has established himself as the best driver in recent years, Formula 1 always manages to deliver dramatic events that keep us hooked. This season, my favorite race was the Australian Grand Prix, featuring exhilarating battles, breathtaking overtakes, and unfortunate accidents. I can't forget how Charles Leclerc of Ferrari lost the race in the early stages and the remarkable performance of the legendary Fernando Alonso, who eventually clinched the third position.

However, what unfolded at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix went beyond a typical motorsport competition. Although I missed some parts of the race, I was captivated by the behind-the-scenes strategic battles waged by the various teams. This level of decision-making prowess may well be one of the final frontiers to be conquered by new technologies like AI. We humans are demonstrating that, among all natural and artificial intelligences, we still reign supreme on this planet.

Undoubtedly, the standout performer of the race was Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, and not necessarily because he crossed the finish line first. It was his exceptional decision-making abilities, particularly in the second half of the race when his car was gradually losing speed and two formidable Mercedes cars were closing in on him, vying for the top spot. Aside from his brilliant tire management that enabled him to cross the finish line in time, Sainz's masterpiece lay in his self-discipline, focus, and strategic decision-making under highly stressful conditions. He ingeniously opted to keep a third driver, Lando Norris, between himself and the two Mercedes drivers, effectively using Norris to maintain a competitive advantage. While this may not align with conventional racing tactics, it illustrated that sometimes, to go faster, you need to ease off the gas pedal.

It's important to note that racing is the primary occupation of these drivers, and their roles can be scrutinized through a lens akin to a workplace scenario. Someone like Sainz can make a monumental difference in a team; he can be the differentiating factor between a good and a championship-winning team. In fact, the events of the Singapore Grand Prix could serve as the basis for a university course in business schools, with the legendary #55 of Scuderia Ferrari as the professor.

I believe that from time to time, we should watch races like this to remind ourselves of the significance of strategic decision-making, both in professional environments and personal life journeys.