Carlos Sainz ‘laughing’ as Mercedes attempted to copy his DRS strategy at Suzuka | 2023 Japanese GP. Carlos Sainz was ‘laughing’ as Mercedes adopted DRS trick at Suzuka.

During the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, which was held earlier today at the 5.807-kilometre Suzuka International Racing Course, Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz found himself in a rather amusing situation inside his SF-23 car. This was due to Mercedes’ strategic maneuver to keep him trailing behind.

In the closing stages of the Suzuka race, Lewis Hamilton intentionally backed off to enable his teammate George Russell to benefit from the DRS (Drag Reduction System), as Mercedes had swapped their drivers and tried to keep the Ferrari man behind. This move bore a striking resemblance to the strategy Carlos Sainz had employed in Singapore just one week ago, where he had relinquished the lead to Lando Norris, allowing both Mercedes drivers to be kept at bay, as the Spaniard secured Ferrari’s only win of the 2023 Formula 1 championship.

However, despite the presence of DRS, Carlos Sainz managed to overtake George Russell but was unable to surge past Lewis Hamilton for the fifth position by the end of the Japanese Grand Prix. Ultimately, the Ferrari driver finished in sixth place, while his Maranello teammate Charles Leclerc secured a fourth-place finish, resulting in a 20-point gain for the Italian side at the end of the Suzuka weekend, compared to Mercedes’ 16 points in their battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.

In the post-race discussions with the media, Carlos Sainz openly admitted that he found Mercedes’ efforts to stay ahead quite entertaining.

“I was laughing in the car because I could see Lewis backing off in 130R to give DRS to George. I was like: ‘I need to make sure I attack George into the chicane.’ If I didn’t throw them offline, it would be impossible to pass them. I went very deep into the chicane, managed to get a bit of a switchback and then I used the DRS, slipstream and everything to pass him. It was good fun. It nearly cost me my own position with my own trick!” – Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz concluded at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix.