MAX VERSTAPPEN has won the Japanese Grand Prix to seal his first victory of the season!
The Red Bull superstar edged out McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who finished second and third, respectively.
Verstappen became the first driver in history to win four straight races at Suzuka.
- Result: 1. Max Verstappen, 2. Lando Norris, 3. Oscar Piastri
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McLaren keep lead at the top
Despite finishing second to Max Verstappen, Lando Norris kept his spot at the top of the driver’s championship.
He stays one point ahead of his Red Bull rival.
The big question will be whether McLaren learn from this missed chance where they opted not to let the faster Oscar Piastri to switch places with his teammate.
Credit: Getty Team celebrate combined effort
Many felt this Red Bull car currently is unable to match the McLaren which is looking far more capable.
However, Verstappen showed that there is one thing they overlooked, a superb driver.
It was a brilliant performance from the current world champion, making it four Japanese Grand Prix victories in a row.
Credit: Getty Fun and games after competition
Despite going toe to toe for the entire race, it was business as usual on the podium.
It is not customary to bathe your opponents in champagne, as magnums are emptied all over each other.
Verstappen will take a lot of confidence from this race and remind McLaren they willl not be dominating this season as many thought.
Credit: Getty
Norris shows class in interview
When speaking with Sky Sports, the first question they asked him was about the pit lane incident.
The McLaren driver said that he didn’t expect to come out of their in front and Verstappen had no reason to let him through.
It led to him losing the one second he gained from the rapid pit stop but it came and went in a blink of an eye.
Respect between rivals
Over recent years, when the top three drivers watch the race back, you could often cut the tension with a knife.
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen seem to get on far better although this may just be a professional respect.
From what we have seen so far this could be some battle this season.
Red Bull picking up points
The ‘Driver of the Day’ award has gone to Yuki Tsunoda.
He finished in twelfth place but seemed to impress the fans who voted.
It will take ssome of the disappointment away from his Red Bull debut.
Big result for Racing Bull
This will be one to remember for Isack Hadjar.
He secured his first five points as an F1 driver.
While he finished quite some way behind Lewis Hamilton, he managed to hold off Alexander Albon and Oliver Bearman.
Rivals take time to watch replay together
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris watched the one bit of excitement when they came out of the pit lanes today.
The McLaren had no space and headed over the grass, cancelling out the one second advantage they gained from their pit time.
As they watched the replay, Verstappen commented “that’s quite an expensive lawnmower!”
Important victory for Red Bull
You felt the Japanese Grand Prix was a real chance for Max Verstappen to put pressure on Norris in the driver’s championship.
Getting pole position was important, but not as much as the start to this race.
The Red Bull driver got off quickest and then closed off the McLaren so they could not make a move on him.
From that point he drove the perfect race to hold them off for all 53 laps.
Credit: AP
McLaren fail to show team spirit
The big advantage they have this season, aside from having the best car, is their drivers seem to be neck and neck in races.
That should allow them to operate as a team, something Verstappen hasn’t been able to do for some time.
However, when Piastri was constantly putting in the fastest laps and trailed Norris by 0.5 seconds, you felt they should have switched positions to take on Verstappen.
Credit: EPA Red Bull gives you wins
Max Verstappen has had a fantastic weekend in Suzuka.
This is his fourth consecutive win in the Japanese Grand Prix.
Currently, McLaren may well have the best car but Red Bull certainly seem to have the best driver.
Credit: @F1 Japanese Grand Prix results
Here are how the drivers finished:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Alexander Albon (Williams)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas)
Max Verstappen wins Japanese Grand Prix
Lap 51/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
Verstappen is putting his foot down more now.
He is lapping quicker than Norris and looking to protect his lead.
The McLaren would have to do something special from here to win.
Lap 49/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
Antonelli has clocked the fastest lap of the race.
The critical point in this finish will be Verstappen’s tyres.
Norris is chipping away with each lap but he may not have enough of them left here.
Lap 47/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
Piastri is in DRS range now.
Norris is hunting down the Red Bull in first position.
You have to wonder whether the McLaren driver left this a little too late.
Lap 45/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
Verstappen leads by 1.3 seconds with 8 laps remaining.
Norris is lapping faster than the Red Bull and looking to put the pressure on.
This will be a big test for the reigning world champion.
Credit: Getty Lap 43/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
There has been no news from the McLaren team.
Norris would not be happy to hear they want him drop back.
It would mean him no longer leading the driver’s championship.
Lap 41/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
It will be interesting to see the team tactics for McLaren here.
Piastri is lapping much quicker of Norris and has closed the gap on his teammate to 0.5 seconds.
If he is currently going faster consistently than the Brit, it may make sense to switch the pair.
Lap 39/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
There were high hopes for Tsunoda this weekend.
He really hasn’t produced at all in this race and is back thirteenth position, not a debut to remember.
There is only 1.3 seconds between Verstappen and Norris, this could be some finish.
Lap 37/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
This is a good drive from Antonelli today.
He became the youngest driver to lead a Grand Prix in the process.
Now he is lapping quicker than Hamilton and opening the gap.
Lap 35/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
Surely the tactics for most in Japan will be a one-pit race.
With 18 laps remaining, those on the hards should have no issue with tyres needing to be protected at all.
Piastri puts in the quickest lap and closes the gap on teammate Norris.
Credit: Reuters Lap 33/53 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
Hamilton heads into the pits and comes back out in seventh.
Antonelli is driving well, despite being on mediums he stayed out longer than Hamilton on hards.
An unfortunate lock-up from the Ferrari was not what the Brit needed before heading into the pits.
Antonelli finally heads into the pits.
Lap 31/53 – Antonelli leads, Hamilton second
Verstappen has Hamilton in his sights now.
He is trying to utilise the grip on those new tyres.
The gap is so minimal, Hamilton will slide down the grid pitting, which will be on his mind.
Lap 29/53 – Antonelli leads, Hamilton second
It seems the front two are trying to build a lead now.
Whether they can make enough of one to pit without losing any places is a big ask.
Norris records the fastest lap to close the gap on Verstappen.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
