Verstappen dominates Japanese GP as Red Bull secures one-two finish
SUZUKA, Japan — Max Verstappen rebounded from his retirement in Australia with a commanding performance at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. The Dutch driver led the race from start to finish, securing victory ahead of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
The race was filled with excitement due to unexpectedly warm weather, varied tyre strategies, and a first-lap collision involving Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Williams' Alex Albon.
Verstappen’s triumph marked his third consecutive pole-to-victory win at Suzuka and his third win in four races for the 2024 season. This victory helps Verstappen extend his lead in the drivers’ championship after a brake-related retirement at Albert Park had tightened the race.
Sergio Perez complemented Verstappen’s success by finishing second. Perez, fresh off an improved qualifying performance, helped secure another one-two finish for Red Bull following perfect results in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia at the start of the season.
Carlos Sainz, winner of the Australian Grand Prix, was the last of the front-runners to pit. His fresher tyres enabled him to pass McLaren’s Lando Norris and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in the final laps. Leclerc, running an alternate strategy with one fewer stop, managed to keep Norris at bay and finish in fourth place, while Norris settled for fifth.
Fernando Alonso led Aston Martin’s charge by finishing sixth, just ahead of the battling Mercedes and McLaren cars of George Russell and Oscar Piastri. Russell and Piastri nearly collided in the final chicane as their respective tyre strategies brought them into close competition. Stewards reviewed the incident after Piastri alleged he was forced off the track.
Lewis Hamilton, questioning Mercedes’ strategy mid-race, finished ninth, followed by home favorite Yuki Tsunoda, who claimed the final point for himself and Red Bull with impressive overtakes that saw him climb to 10th place.
Nico Hulkenberg of Haas fell victim to Tsunoda, finishing 11th, while Lance Stroll demonstrated some eye-catching moves but ended in 12th. Stroll lamented over the radio about Aston Martin’s lack of straight-line speed, likening it to driving in a “different category.”
Kevin Magnussen secured 13th for Haas ahead of Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas and the Alpine duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who survived contact after the initial race restart following Ricciardo and Albon’s incident.
Despite a late gravel excursion, Logan Sargeant managed to secure 17th place. The Williams driver avoided the fate of Ricciardo, Albon, and Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu, who retired early due to technical issues.
After four action-packed rounds, Formula 1 heads to China with Max Verstappen leading the drivers’ standings.
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