Singapore Stunner: Kruimel Wins, but The Captain Steals the Show in a Night of High Drama

As the lights lit up the Marina Bay Circuit for the tenth round of the F1 Co-op Season 4, the sweltering humidity of Singapore was nothing compared to the simmering tension within the Ferrari garage. With momentum swinging in his favor over the past four race weekends, The Captain had emerged as a serious title contender. But on this tight, unforgiving street circuit, it would be mechanical fate—not driving brilliance—that decided the outcome.

Ferrari Front Row Lockout

Qualifying saw Ferrari flex its muscles as both drivers delivered under the lights. The Captain looked to be the faster man in the early runs, but a final-lap flyer from Kruimel snatched pole with a 1:24.987—barely three tenths clear of his teammate. While Kruimel claimed bragging rights for Saturday, he paid a price: a third set of soft tyres used, compromising his Sunday strategy.

Soft vs Medium: Diverging Strategies

When the race began, it was immediately clear the two Ferrari drivers were on divergent plans. Kruimel started on the more durable medium compound, while The Captain, along with Leclerc behind, opted for the aggressive soft start.

The Captain got a rocket launch and overtook Kruimel into Turn 1, using his grip advantage to snatch the lead by the time they exited Turn 3. From there, he began pulling away with surgical precision, driving Kruimel out of DRS range within two laps.

Meanwhile, Leclerc lurked ominously behind Kruimel, applying constant pressure as Kruimel clung to second. The early laps showcased The Captain’s mastery as he steadily built a 1.5-second gap.

Mediums Fight Back

By lap 5, the pendulum began to swing. The soft tyres began to degrade rapidly, and Kruimel’s mediums came into their own. Slowly but surely, he reeled in The Captain, regaining DRS by the end of lap 7. But his eagerness betrayed him—an overzealous lunge in Turn 1 on lap 8 forced him to lift, allowing Leclerc to pounce. It was nearly disaster, but Kruimel kept his cool and his position.

The Captain pitted at the end of lap 8 for a clean switch to mediums. Kruimel, undercut threat looming large, responded on lap 9, bolting on hards. He rejoined just ahead of Leclerc but crucially behind The Captain, who now had warm mediums and clear air.

Kruimel couldn’t match The Captain’s pace and was dropped from DRS range within half a lap. Yet again, he was forced into a defensive mode, brilliantly holding off Leclerc despite the Aston Martin’s fresher tyres.

A Twist of Fate

As The Captain extended his lead to over 4.6 seconds by lap 16, disaster struck. A thick plume of smoke erupted from the rear of his Ferrari. With a dead gearbox and no drive, The Captain coasted to a halt at Turn 5.

Silence in the Ferrari pit. Devastation on the radio. Kruimel, informed mid-race, responded with rare emotion: “What a shitshow. This isn’t right. This isn’t how I want to win.”

Holding On to a Hollow Victory

But win he did. Kruimel showed immense composure to fend off the Aston Martins in the closing laps, maintaining a steady rhythm and never yielding position. As he crossed the line, victorious yet solemn, the story of the race was already clear.

This was The Captain’s race—until it wasn’t.

Post-Race Reactions

The Captain, speaking to media before the checkered flag even dropped, didn’t mince words:

“What can I say? I’m devastated. I was clearly the fastest today. A sure win vanished because of mechanical failure. This cannot happen, especially not at Ferrari. I hope Kruimel brings it home for the team, but this was mine.”

Kruimel was equally honest after the race:

“I had to fight the entire race. The Captain had me beat from Turn 1. I just couldn’t catch him. I had to hold off Leclerc all race long. In the end, I inherit the win, but this is not how we want to beat each other. He deserved this one.”

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur summed it up best:

“Both drivers raced with dignity. It’s unfortunate how The Captain’s race ended—he was clearly the fastest this weekend. But Kruimel drove maturely and kept two very fast Aston Martins behind. We’ll investigate the failure and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Championship Shake-Up

The DNF proved costly for The Captain. While he was poised to claw back vital points, he instead watched his rivals surge ahead. Kruimel now leads Leclerc by 36 points and The Captain by 38, regaining control of the title race.

But all is far from over. With six rounds left—including three sprint weekends—there’s still plenty of racing to come. And next up? Circuit of the Americas, where The Captain won last year in a slower car than Kruimel’s.

Does Kruimel truly have the momentum? Or did Singapore prove that, even in defeat, The Captain is now the fastest man on the grid?

A Rivalry Rooted in Brotherhood

The story between Kruimel and The Captain runs deeper than a single race. Both Dutchmen came up through the ranks together, childhood friends turned fierce competitors. From Mercedes Academy standouts to F2 teammates at Van Amersfoort Racing, their paths have always been intertwined.

While Kruimel debuted with Aston Martin and shot to stardom, The Captain endured growing pains with backmarker Williams. Still, flashes of brilliance hinted at greater potential. Their divergent journeys came full circle when both signed with Ferrari ahead of Season 4—by mutual request.

Now, in equal machinery, the rivalry is pure. Raw. Personal. And with every race, the stakes climb higher.

Singapore may not have given us the wheel-to-wheel finale we hoped for. But it gave us something else: undeniable proof that, when fate allows, The Captain has what it takes to beat the reigning champ.

And maybe, just maybe, become one himself.