Max Verstappen clinched a crucial win at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, marking his first victory of the current season and his third triumph in the last 17 races. This hard-fought victory, characterized by precision and excellence that his team engineer termed as “perfection,” was vital for Verstappen and his Red Bull team.
The feat at Suzuka signified Verstappen’s fourth consecutive victory at this central Japan circuit, effectively halting the winning streak established by McLarens’ Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the season’s opening races in Australia and China. “We still have work to do,” remarked Verstappen, adding that the victory proved Red Bull’s capacity to perform at the top when everything aligns.
Verstappen entered the race from pole position, having set a new course record during an “insane” qualifying round. Lando Norris finished second, just ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri, with the track remaining dry despite early rain which facilitated an incident-free contest.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured fourth place, with Mercedes’ George Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli claiming fifth and sixth. Local driver Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his debut race with Red Bull’s senior team.
Verstappen described the outing as an “unbelievable” weekend for the team, asserting their determination to keep pushing. As the standings now stand, Norris leads with 62 points, closely followed by Verstappen with 61, after three of the total 24 races.
The weekend’s pivotal moment arose when Verstappen claimed pole position during Saturday’s qualifiers. There was a singular incident during Sunday’s race, labeled the “grass-cutting moment.” It occurred around the 20-lap mark when both Verstappen and Norris exited the pits nearly simultaneously, resulting in Norris veering onto the grass, unable to overtake Verstappen.
Norris reiterated there were no hard feelings toward Verstappen, noting Verstappen maintained the correct position, stating, “He was still ahead…Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space.” The decision by race stewards supported this view.
After the race, Verstappen extended gratitude to Honda, the Japanese engine manufacturer ending its partnership with Red Bull after this season, celebrating the win on what is Honda’s track.
Elaborating on the race, Verstappen shared, “The two McLarens were pushing hard. We didn’t give up on improving the car, and today it was at its best.” The pole position advantage was pivotal to the win.
Norris maintained pressure on Verstappen throughout but struggled to exploit any gaps on the narrow Suzuka tracks. “I could see Max quite clearly but couldn’t make inroads,” Norris noted, acknowledging Verstappen’s faultless performance.
Piastri and Norris remain optimistic about their vehicle’s competitive edge, envisaging a competitive season ahead as the margin between teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari is minimal. “We have a small advantage,” Piastri mentioned, highlighting the necessity to avoid errors lest rivals capitalize.
The race commenced cleanly with Verstappen securing an early lead as other top starters fell in line behind him. By the race’s midpoint, he extended the lead to two seconds over Norris.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli briefly led the race, becoming the youngest to do so alongside setting the fastest lap at merely 18. However, Verstappen reclaimed the lead after 32 laps, leading Norris by 1.3 seconds and Piastri by 3.4. Following team orders to intensify his effort at lap 36, Verstappen advanced unrelentingly to achieve his 64th career win.
This decisive victory embodies Red Bull’s resilience and Verstappen’s masterly driving, offering compelling competition as the season unfolds.