Verstappen dominates in Red Bull Racing one-two finish at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix

Formula 1 MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix 2024/Red Bull Content Pool

SUZUKA, Japan -- Max Verstappen secured a commanding victory at the 2024 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, leading a Red Bull Racing one-two finish with teammate Sergio Perez trailing by 12.5 seconds. This win solidified Verstappen's position in the championship standings and highlighted Red Bull Racing’s dominance this season.

Check out the results of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, including the race results, qualifying times, and practice sessions

Verstappen said on the team radio as he crossed the finish line: "Yes, that was a very lovely race. The car just got better and better throughout the race. Well done, a really good result for the team."

“It was very nice, I think the critical bit was of course the start, to stay ahead, and after that the car got better and better for me throughout the race. I don’t know if it had to do with the clouds coming in, but yeah, [it was] very nice. Everything just went really well, the pit stops went well, the strategy I think worked out well, so it couldn’t have been any better.” he added in a post-race interview with a nine-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner Mark Webber.

In the recent Grand Prix race, the Red Bull Racing team dominated with Max Verstappen finishing first, recording a time of 1:54:23.566 after 53 laps. His teammate, Sergio Perez, crossed the finish line 12.535 seconds behind, securing second place. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari claimed the third spot on the podium, concluding the race 20.866 seconds after Verstappen. The time differences highlight the competitive nature of the race among the top three drivers.

The race started with immediate drama as Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon collided and retired on the opening lap, disrupting the field early on. Verstappen quickly established a lead, navigating a variety of pit strategies that played out across the grid. By lap 16, he had pitted for medium tires, temporarily conceding the lead to Charles Leclerc of Ferrari before reclaiming it with ease.

Perez's second-place finish was cemented after an impressive drive, capitalizing on his strategy and maintaining pace to hold off Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who finished third. Sainz showcased strong form, advancing through the field to secure a podium spot, followed closely by his teammate Charles Leclerc in fourth.

Perez said after race: "It was a good weekend for the team first of all. Doing the restart again, it's always hard to keep focus for such a long period of time. My second start was just a little bit better, just not enough to get Max. I think we paid the price a little bit, we were a little bit off-balance, we couldn't keep it alive. We were undercut by Lando [Norris].

Sainz said after race: ”I had a good race to be honest, very happy, it was quite tough out there with the degradation, then suddenly the clouds came the degradation went a lot lower and then I thought one-stop was quicker and we were on the two [stop]. I had to overtake a lot of cars out there today -- overtaking is tricky at Suzuka you really need to nail the last chicane to get a good run turn one.”

Sainz added: “I was quick on that hard tyre and liked how it gave me a good feeling to push.”

Despite opting for a tyre change during the restart, Leclerc managed to execute an effective one-stop strategy from thereon, securing fourth position ahead of Norris and McLaren.

McLaren's Lando Norris, starting from third on the grid, ended the race in fifth, unable to translate his qualifying performance into a podium finish. Despite a strong start, strategic calls and tire management saw him lose ground as the race progressed.

Given McLaren's demonstrated speed advantage over Ferrari this week, the team's strategy to bring him in for an early pit stop could very well be scrutinized.

Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin demonstrated resilience, finishing sixth after a series of strategic tire changes and battles throughout the race. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished seventh and ninth respectively, with Russell engaging in a notable tussle with McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who finished eighth.

Home favorite Yuki Tsunoda of RB delighted the Japanese crowd by securing the final points-paying position in tenth, after a fierce battle with Nico Hulkenberg of Haas and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin. Tsunoda's performance was a highlight for local fans, showcasing his determination and skill on the challenging Suzuka circuit.

The race also saw retirements from Zhou Guanyu of Kick Sauber, due to a gearbox issue, adding to the early exits of Daniel Ricciardo of RB and Alexander Albon of Williams.

This result further strengthens Red Bull Racing’s lead in both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, with Verstappen looking increasingly likely to defend his title successfully. As the F1 season progresses, teams will need to devise new strategies to counter Red Bull Racing’s formidable performance.

The next race is in Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China on April 21.

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