Max Verstappen won Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix to break a “mini-slump” of two wins from 16 races but needed a drive that his Red Bull team engineer called “perfection” to get it done.
It was Verstappen‘s fourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan and breaks the momentum of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won the season’s first two races in Australia and China.
“We still have work to do,” Verstappen said. “But it does show if we nail everything we can be up there.”
He did just that.
The four-time defending Formula 1 champion, Verstappen started from pole position after setting a course-record time in qualifying, which he called “insane.” Norris placed second and Piastri was third. The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day to produce an incident-free race.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth followed by George Russell of Mercedes and teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first drive with Red Bull’s top team.
“We keep pushing,” Verstappen said. “Unbelievable. A great weekend for us.”
Norris leads the driver’s standings after three races with 62 points to 61 for Verstappen.
The weekend turned when Verstappen took the pole on his record lap Saturday in qualifying. And there was only one incident of note in Sunday’s race – one that’s being dubbed the “grass-cutting moment.”
Most of the leaders pitted around the 20-lap mark with Verstappen and Norris exiting the pits at almost exactly the same time with Norris forced to drive over the grass, unable to get by Verstappen and he tried to access the track.
“He drove himself into the grass,” Verstappen said on the radio.
Norris said he had no bone to pick with Verstappen.
“He had the position and the right to do what he did,” Norris said.
Race stewards agreed.
After the race, Verstappen saluted Japanese engine maker Honda, which this season will end its run of supplying the Red Bull team. And of course the win came on the Suzuka circuit, which Honda runs.
“If was fun, just pushing very hard at the end,” Verstappen said. “The two McLarens were pushing very hard. We didn’t give up improving the car and today it was in its best form.”
“Of course, starting on the pole – that’s what made it possible to win this race.”
Norris trailed right behing Verstappen for almost the whole race, unable to pass on the narrow Suzuka circuit.
“I could see Max quite clearly for the whole race but just couldn’t quite make any inroads,” Norris said, unsurprised Verstappen was flawless and left him no openings.
“I don’t need anyone to tell me what Max is capable of doing,” he said.
Piastri and Norris both suggested their cars were slightly quicker than most this season. But the gap with other frontrunners Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari is narrow.
“I think we have a small advantage,” Piastri said. “But any small mistake and there’s a lot of competition there to capitalize.”
Sunday’s start was clean with Verstappen taking the lead with the top starters on the grid falling into line behind him. Verstappen slowly stretched his lead and was two seconds ahead of Norris after 10 of 53 laps and kept the same advantage after 15.
Antonelli led briefly in the middle of the race as he stayed out longer on his first set of tires. At 18 he became the youngest to ever lead an F1 race. In addition, he also had the fastest lap – the youngest to do that, too.
Verstappen was back in the lead after 32 laps, only 1.3 seconds ahead of Norris and 3.4 up on Piastri. On the 36th lap the team radio told him: “Push from here.”
He did just that, pushing all the way to his 64th career win.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Spaun snatches major glory after incredible US Open finish
JJ Spaun snatched major glory at the US Open after overcoming a nightmare start to edge ahead of a congested leaderboard and claim a dramatic victory at Oakmont. Spaun went into the final round a shot behind Sam Burns but saw his hopes seemingly ended by five bogeys in his first six holes, only to charge back into contention after a lengthy weather delay. The American posted two long-range birdies on his back nine - as many of the final pairings struggled on a saturated course, before cancelling out a bogey at the 15th with a two-putt birdie at the driveable par-four 17th to take a one-shot lead to the final hole. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player JJ Spaun sank two huge birdie putts in three holes at Oakmont to charge back into US Open […]
Palmeiras dá sufoco no Porto na estreia do Mundial de Clubes, mas falta capricho no último passe no empate em 0 a 0; análise
Palmeiras e Porto entraram em campo com uma certeza: a vitória na estreia era praticamente a garantia do primeiro lugar do Grupo A, que ainda tem a presença do Al Ahli e o Inter Miami, que empataram na estreia da Copa do Mundo de Clubes. Por isso, os times se lançaram ao ataque e buscaram o gol até o fim. E o placar de 0 a 0, neste domingo, em Nova Jersey, frustrou ambas as equipes. Especialmente a de Abel Ferreira que teve mais domínio de jogo e força ofensiva. Agora, o Palmeiras enfrenta o Al Ahli, na quinta-feira, às 13h, também em Nova Jersey. O Porto pega o Inter Miami, de Messi, no mesmo dia, às 16h, em Atlanta. Os quatro times somam um ponto cada, e o saldo de gols pode fazer a diferença na classificação final. Tanto […]
FINAL LAPS: Shane Van Gisbergen wins Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | NASCAR on FOX
NASCAR Cup Series Video Details Check out Shane Van Gisbergen taking the checkered flag at the Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. 5 MINS AGO・NASCAR Cup Series・1:55 Shane Van Gisbergen NASCAR Cup Series
Red Sox reportedly trade star DH Rafael Devers to Giants
<!--> Fresh off their three-game sweep of the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox are trading their top star hitter. Rafael Devers has been traded to the San Francisco Giants, according to multiple reports.The Red Sox will land pitchers Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison and more as part of the deal, FanSided first reported. Devers, 28, is likely in line to earn his fourth All-Star nod this season. He hit his 15th homer of the year in the Red Sox' 2-0 win over the Yankees on Sunday.This is a developing story and will be updated. --> recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Vini Jr. alerta para o calor e ressalta motivação do Madrid pelo Mundial: ‘O primeiro nunca é esquecido’
Atacante do Real Madrid, o brasileiro Vinicius Junior garante que o clube chega com motivação em alta para a disputa da Copa do Mundo de Clubes. Em entrevista ao site oficial do clube, o jogador da seleção brasileira projeta que o clube seja o primeiro campeão da nova competição. — Estamos com muita vontade de ganhar esse primeiro Mundial. O primeiro (campeão) nunca é esquecido e é o único título que o Madrid não tem. Vamos por ele. O elenco desembarcou na Flórida no sábado. Ontem, fez seu primeiro treinamento em um complexo esportivo em Palm Beach Gardens. A competição marca a estreia do técnico Xabi Alonso, que substituiu Carlo Ancelotti no cargo. O Real Madrid inicia na Copa de Clubes contra o saudita Al-Hilal, na quarta-feira, às 16h. O jogo é no Hard Rock Stadium, em Miami. Vini falou […]
It’s a Rose Bowl Rout! PSG Thumps Atlético Madrid 4-0 at the Club World Cup
<!--> Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha scored in the first half, and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain opened Club World Cup play with a 4-0 victory over Atlético Madrid on Sunday.PSG largely dominated Atlético at the Rose Bowl in its first match since trouncing Inter Milan 5-0 to win its first Champions League title on May 31.Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-in scored against 10-man Atlético in the second half of the European powers' meeting in front of 80,619 fans at the site of the 1994 World Cup final for one of the highest-profile matches in the group stage of the first 32-team edition of the Club World Cup.Atlético's Clement Lenglet was sent off in the 78th minute with his second yellow card on a frustrating day that left Diego Simeone visibly furious at both the referees and his players' mistakes.Ousmane Dembele […]
Related
Spaun snatches major glory after incredible US Open finish
JJ Spaun snatched major glory at the US Open after overcoming a nightmare start to edge ahead of a congested leaderboard and claim a dramatic victory at Oakmont. Spaun went into the final round a shot behind Sam Burns but saw his hopes seemingly ended by five bogeys in his first six holes, only to charge back into contention after a lengthy weather delay. The American posted two long-range birdies on his back nine - as many of the final pairings struggled on a saturated course, before cancelling out a bogey at the 15th with a two-putt birdie at the driveable par-four 17th to take a one-shot lead to the final hole. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player JJ Spaun sank two huge birdie putts in three holes at Oakmont to charge back into US Open […]
Palmeiras dá sufoco no Porto na estreia do Mundial de Clubes, mas falta capricho no último passe no empate em 0 a 0; análise
Palmeiras e Porto entraram em campo com uma certeza: a vitória na estreia era praticamente a garantia do primeiro lugar do Grupo A, que ainda tem a presença do Al Ahli e o Inter Miami, que empataram na estreia da Copa do Mundo de Clubes. Por isso, os times se lançaram ao ataque e buscaram o gol até o fim. E o placar de 0 a 0, neste domingo, em Nova Jersey, frustrou ambas as equipes. Especialmente a de Abel Ferreira que teve mais domínio de jogo e força ofensiva. Agora, o Palmeiras enfrenta o Al Ahli, na quinta-feira, às 13h, também em Nova Jersey. O Porto pega o Inter Miami, de Messi, no mesmo dia, às 16h, em Atlanta. Os quatro times somam um ponto cada, e o saldo de gols pode fazer a diferença na classificação final. Tanto […]
FINAL LAPS: Shane Van Gisbergen wins Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | NASCAR on FOX
NASCAR Cup Series Video Details Check out Shane Van Gisbergen taking the checkered flag at the Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. 5 MINS AGO・NASCAR Cup Series・1:55 Shane Van Gisbergen NASCAR Cup Series
Red Sox reportedly trade star DH Rafael Devers to Giants
<!--> Fresh off their three-game sweep of the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox are trading their top star hitter. Rafael Devers has been traded to the San Francisco Giants, according to multiple reports.The Red Sox will land pitchers Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison and more as part of the deal, FanSided first reported. Devers, 28, is likely in line to earn his fourth All-Star nod this season. He hit his 15th homer of the year in the Red Sox' 2-0 win over the Yankees on Sunday.This is a developing story and will be updated. --> recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Vini Jr. alerta para o calor e ressalta motivação do Madrid pelo Mundial: ‘O primeiro nunca é esquecido’
Atacante do Real Madrid, o brasileiro Vinicius Junior garante que o clube chega com motivação em alta para a disputa da Copa do Mundo de Clubes. Em entrevista ao site oficial do clube, o jogador da seleção brasileira projeta que o clube seja o primeiro campeão da nova competição. — Estamos com muita vontade de ganhar esse primeiro Mundial. O primeiro (campeão) nunca é esquecido e é o único título que o Madrid não tem. Vamos por ele. O elenco desembarcou na Flórida no sábado. Ontem, fez seu primeiro treinamento em um complexo esportivo em Palm Beach Gardens. A competição marca a estreia do técnico Xabi Alonso, que substituiu Carlo Ancelotti no cargo. O Real Madrid inicia na Copa de Clubes contra o saudita Al-Hilal, na quarta-feira, às 16h. O jogo é no Hard Rock Stadium, em Miami. Vini falou […]
It’s a Rose Bowl Rout! PSG Thumps Atlético Madrid 4-0 at the Club World Cup
<!--> Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha scored in the first half, and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain opened Club World Cup play with a 4-0 victory over Atlético Madrid on Sunday.PSG largely dominated Atlético at the Rose Bowl in its first match since trouncing Inter Milan 5-0 to win its first Champions League title on May 31.Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-in scored against 10-man Atlético in the second half of the European powers' meeting in front of 80,619 fans at the site of the 1994 World Cup final for one of the highest-profile matches in the group stage of the first 32-team edition of the Club World Cup.Atlético's Clement Lenglet was sent off in the 78th minute with his second yellow card on a frustrating day that left Diego Simeone visibly furious at both the referees and his players' mistakes.Ousmane Dembele […]
Be the first to leave a comment