Untouchable Max Verstappen cruises to Japanese Grand Prix win as Red Bull seal constructors' title
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Updated 24/09/2023 at 13:10 GMT
Red Bull Racing collected a sixth constructors' title as Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit. The Dutchman took the chequered flag with an advantage of around 20 seconds such was his dominance. McLaren collected a double podium as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third. Lewis Hamilton finished in fifth.
Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on September 24, 2023 in Suzuka, Japan.
Image credit: Getty Images
Max Verstappen cruised to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix and bagged a sixth constructors' title for Red Bull Racing.
The championship dominator held the lead from pole at the start and was untouchable throughout the race to take the chequered flag with an advantage of around 20 seconds.
Verstappen now tops the table standings by 177 points and can wrap up the drivers' title at the next Grand Prix in Qatar. "It's been an unbelievable weekend," he said in parc ferme.
"To win here is great and the car was working really well on every compound. But the most important thing is to also win the constructors' championship. I'm very proud of everyone at the track but also back at the factory - we're having an incredible year.
"[There was] a bit too much wheelspin at the start but after that it was quite a straightforward race."
Verstappen was under pressure from the McLarens at lights out, Oscar Piastri attacking him from second on the grid and Lando Norris seeing a gap around the outside. However, the Dutchman managed to defend the position and controlled the race from there.
While not catching the lead, Norris did pip Piastri for runner-up. He was in danger of losing the position to his teammate again only once when Piastri won time by pitting under the virtual safety car, but Norris swiftly closed the gap again on track.
Running in second, he was curiously racing George Russell down in seventh who was gambling on a one-stop strategy. The crucial box call from McLaren came on Lap 37 and although Norris rejoined the field behind Russell, he had far superior pace on the fresher tyres and overtook easily.
From there, the Brit was comfortable in second and secured the podium position. "We couldn't have asked for more, the team did an amazing job," Norris said.
"My start was very good, I almost had Max [Verstappen], but then Max is Max as well, so I didn't have much of a chance into Turn 2. I tried, but his pace was extremely strong today compared to everyone, and while we're not close to Max, but we're not miles away either, so it was a very good day and I'm very happy.
"We're pushing and we're getting there. The progress we made is pretty outstanding. I'm very proud of the team and the steps forward we're making every weekend. I'm sure there's some tough times to come, but we're getting there step by step. This is our first podium together with Oscar [Piastri], so it's a great moment for us."
Indeed, the day got even better for McLaren as Piastri concluded an error-free race in third, securing a double podium for the Kiwi manufacturer.
"It feels pretty special, definitely - I'll remember this for a very long time," Piastri commented on his first-ever F1 rostrum finish. "I can't thank the team enough for giving me this opportunity; there's not many people who ever get this opportunity in their whole lives and I managed to have it in my first season.
"It wasn't my best race ever, but it was enough to get a trophy in the end, so I'm super happy and excited to get some more."
Piastri too battled Russell on the one-stop and executed a beautiful move on the Mercedes on Lap 42, lining the overtake up through the chicane and making it stick into Turn 1. "The move on George [Russell] ... I knew I had to get past, otherwise I'd be stuck for a while. - that one was a bit close," he admitted. "But our pace after that was very strong, and in the second part of the race I got more into a groove, more of a rhythm."
Charles Leclerc had a quiet race to fourth while Lewis Hamilton drove and excellent final lap to hold a charging Carlos Sainz behind him for P5. Russell eventually had to settle for seventh on fading tyres, the one-stop strategy not gaining him anything but likely not losing much either.
Meanwhile, it was a day to forget for championship runner-up Sergio Perez. The Mexican was forced to pit for a new front wing early in the race and while charging back through the field collided with Kevin Magnussen, causing further damage to the Red Bull and eventually inspiring a retirement.
DRIVER OF THE DAY - OSCAR PIASTRI
Having signed a contract extension to stay with McLaren until 2026 in the run-up to the Japanese Grand Prix, Piastri was clearly spirited around Suzuka.
The rookie completed an error-free race to bag his first-ever rostrum finish and make it a double podium for McLaren. And he did it in style as well with his beautiful overtake through the chicane and Turn 1 on Russell arguably being the outstanding move of the day.
WHERE THE RACE WAS WON AND LOST
1/53: VERSTAPPEN HOLDS LEAD AT LIGHTS OUT - Piastri challenges Verstappen to the lead and with them engaged in battle, a gap around the outside opens for Norris for a chance to attack. The McLaren tries everything to get in front, but Verstappen holds on to the position. There is some contact further down the field.
2/53: SAFETY CAR OUT - There's some debris on the track, bringing out the safety car. The main culprits look to be Bottas and Sargeant with Albon suffering a heavy hit as a consequence.
5/53: SAFETY CAR IN - The safety car comes back in as the field goes into Lap 5. Verstappen gets the jump and the order stays as it is for now.
15/53: RACE OVER FOR PEREZ - That's it for Perez as Red Bull call him back to the box to retire after his collision with Magnussen.
18/53: NORRIS STOPS, LOSES TO PIASTRI - Norris swaps to hard tyres and rejoins the track, as expected, behind his teammate Piastri. He is running a superior pace though and looks odds-on to close the gap.
23/53: ONE-STOP FOR RUSSELL - Russell and the Mercedes box look swayed to run a one-stop strategy.
26/53: McLARENS IN BATTLE - 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. He gets his wish.
30/53: VERSTAPPEN IN CONTROL - 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, the race looks his to lose.
38/53: NORRIS PASSES RUSSELL, ONE-STOP DOESN'T WORK - And there's an easy overtake for Norris on the fresher tyres. The one-stop strategy has not worked for Russell in this instance.
42/53: LOVELY MOVE FROM PIASTRI - 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.
51/53: PODIUM LOOKS SETTLED - 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.
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