JAPANESE GRAND PRIX LIVE - MCLARENS CHASE BACK-ON-FORM VERSTAPPEN IN SUZUKA

Verstappen takes the chequered flag, winning not only the race but also the constructors' championship for Red Bull. Norris and Piastri bag a double podium for McLaren.

Leclerc is fourth while Hamilton just holds off Sainz for fifth.

Hamilton will need to remain absolutely error-free here as Sainz stalks him closely.

The top positions look decided here with Verstappen almost 20 seconds ahead of Norris who himself holds more than 15 seconds over Piastri.

It'll be a double podium for McLaren as Piastri is comfortably ahead of Leclerc, the Ferrari, in turn, safe in fourth.

Mercedes get what they asked for as Russell lets Hamilton pass. Likely, it was the wrong call as Sainz immediately makes his way past Russell and, running superior pace, hunts down Hamilton.

Mercedes ask Russell to let Hamilton pass, but Russell makes the sensible point to wait until the last lap: with Sainz so close behind, Russell would be able to protect Hamilton by offering him DRS, keeping Sainz behind and securing P5 and 6 for Mercedes.

Hamilton is closing in on Russell with Sainz hot on his heels. You can sense a Mercedes swap call coming here, but it will be a difficult one for Russell to let Hamilton pass but keep Sainz behind.

Beautiful racing from Leclerl and Russell as the Ferrari withstands some healthy defending and executes a move for P4.

Nicely done by Piastri who sets up a move on Russell through the chicane and makes it stick going into Turn 1 on Lap 42. That takes the McLaren up into P3.

Verstappen comes in for what will most likely be his final pit stop and receives a set of hard tyres. He rejoins the track still well in the lead.

And there's an easy overtake for Norris on the fresher tyres. The one-stop strategy has not worked for Russell in this instance.

Norris swaps for another set of hard tyres and rejoins the track shortly behind Russell on the one-stop. He has superior pace though.

Piastri comes in for a set of hard tyres.

Sainz stays out for now, trying to offset an undercut from Hamilton. Russell, also still out on the one-stop strategy, is now in fourth.

Leclerc heads to the pits for new tyres, protecting himself from a possible undercut from Hamilton who also boxes.

Red Bull are preparing Perez to head out on track, aiming to serve the penalties received and not take them to the next race.

He's so far ahead of the field, it's easy to forget he's there. Running a great, consistent pace on his second set of medium tyres (it's worth noting that they only had a single set of hards left for the race), Verstappen holds a 14-seconds advantage at the top and the race looks his to lose.

As it stands, Norris in second is curiously racing Russell in seventh. With the Mercedes driver option for a one-stop, he has a 20-seconds or so advantage in hand over the drivers ahead of him that will need to pit again.

For Russell that means he will need to manage his tyres, Norris will have to maximise his.

Piastri looks to be somewhat struggling on his set of tyres and Leclerc is edging closer.

And there's the swap from McLaren as Piastri moves to the side to allow Norris to take P2.

Things are getting feisty between the McLarens as less than a second separates them.

Norris has the better pace and heavily suggests on the radio that the team should make the call to swap the cars, avoiding any danger from Russell on the overcut strategy.

There's the (possibly only) stop for Russell who ran a good stint on the mediums and now swaps them out for the hard compound.