McLaren continues to dominate the Formula 1 landscape, yet Max Verstappen’s triumph for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix underscored the necessity of excellence to topple their stronghold. As the Bahrain Grand Prix looms, these are five notable observations from Suzuka:
Firstly, McLaren’s supremacy faces challenges. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri still operate the fastest car on the grid, but the team’s ability to maintain a winning streak akin to Red Bull’s impressive start in 2023 is waning. Verstappen’s victory illustrated the herculean effort required to outpace McLaren. The Dutch driver executed near-flawless performance in both qualifying and the race. Still, McLaren was on the cusp of taking the lead when Norris made a crucial overtake attempt. “We really maximized the weekend,” Verstappen remarked, noting that cooler weather provided relief in tire management, traditionally a McLaren forte.
Despite Red Bull’s internal challenges, Verstappen shines brighter. It’s been five races since a Red Bull driver other than Verstappen scored points. Efforts by teammates Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and recently Yuki Tsunoda reveal the car’s notorious difficulty. Verstappen’s pole-to-win execution in Japan was a testament to his exceptional driving skills. Though Tsunoda felt “disappointed” finishing 12th at his home race, it marked the best placement for Red Bull’s second car since Perez’s 10th finish in Las Vegas.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli emerged as the standout rookie, breaking records as the youngest driver to lead a Grand Prix and set the fastest lap at 18. The young Mercedes driver, who finished sixth, relished the milestone, saying, “the next goal is to lead the final lap that counts.” Although he won’t break Verstappen’s record as the youngest race winner, Antonelli remains exceptional among a loaded rookie class. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar also shows promise, finishing eighth in Japan after an initial rocky season.
In contrast, Ferrari is not where it wants to be. While scoring points post-China disqualification was positive, the race lacked thrills for fans. Charles Leclerc described his run to fourth as “very boring,” while Lewis Hamilton talked of a “lonely race” ending in seventh. Ferrari, missing both podium finishes and excitement, seeks a renaissance with Hamilton. After the Chinese Grand Prix drama, Hamilton seeks a consistent performance, aiming for more at Suzuka.
Finally, shaking up the F1 season has inherent risks. Relocating the Japanese Grand Prix to spring last year placed it during the country’s renowned cherry blossom bloom, offering picturesque TV moments and travel efficiencies. However, the move coincided with Japan’s dormant, dry grass season, causing disruptions due to grass fires during qualifying. Rain proved beneficial in averting further issues on race day, spotlighting the challenges of reconfiguring the season.