Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing showcased his dominance on the track as he secured an emphatic victory at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, held at the iconic Suzuka Circuit. The Dutch driver finished the race almost 20 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, Lando Norris of McLaren. Rookie sensation Oscar Piastri completed the podium, adding another feather to McLaren’s cap.
Red Bull’s triumph at the Japanese Grand Prix also helped them secure the Constructors’ title for the sixth time in their illustrious history. Verstappen, who started the race on pole, was joined by Piastri at the front of the grid, followed by Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Verstappen got off to a clean start and quickly established a gap between him and the chasing pack. Norris, applying pressure on his teammate Piastri, swiftly overtook him to claim second place on the very first lap.
Despite some early incidents, including a collision between Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Williams’ Alex Albon, both drivers managed to continue, though the safety car was deployed to remove debris from the track. The safety car left the circuit on lap four, with the race order at the front remaining unchanged.
However, there were more incidents throughout the race. Logan Sargeant of Williams collided with the rear of Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo, resulting in Bottas retiring from the race, while Sargeant received a penalty. Sergio Perez of Red Bull also locked up his brakes and made contact with Kevin Magnussen of Haas, sending the latter spinning. Sadly, Perez’s car sustained too much damage, forcing him to retire from the race.
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Meanwhile, Verstappen continued to dominate at the front, recording the fastest lap of the race shortly after his pit stop. He steadily built on his lead over the remaining laps and eventually crossed the finish line as the winner, marking his 47th career win and his 13th win of the season. With six races left, Verstappen has a strong chance of surpassing his own record of 15 wins in a single season.
In addition to his race victory, Verstappen is also on track to secure his third Drivers’ title, a feat he might achieve at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix. He currently leads the 2023 Drivers’ Championship standings with 400 points. Perez sits in a distant second with 223 points, followed by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-Benz AMG in third with 190 points. Red Bull’s successful season has also made them the Constructors’ Champions, amassing an impressive 623 points. Mercedes holds the second spot with 305 points, while Ferrari sits in third place with 285 points.
The Formula 1 season will resume in a fortnight with the Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen will aim to extend his lead and inch closer to clinching the coveted Drivers’ title.
For a comprehensive overview of the results from the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, refer to the following list:
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2) Lando Norris, McLaren (+19.387 seconds)
3) Oscar Piastri, McLaren (+36.494 seconds)
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (+43.998 seconds)
5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz AMG (+49.376 seconds)
6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari (+50.221 seconds)
7) George Russell, Mercedes-Benz AMG (+57.659 seconds)
8) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin (+74.725 seconds)
9) Esteban Ocon, Alpine (+79.678 seconds)
10) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri (+83.155 seconds)
Additional finishers:
11) Liam Lawson, AlphaTauri (+1 lap)
12) Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri (+1 lap)
13) Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo (+1 lap)
14) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas (+1 lap)
15) Kevin Magnussen, Haas (+1 lap)
NC) Alexander Albon, Williams – Did Not Finish
NC) Logan Sargeant, Williams – Did Not Finish
NC) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – Did Not Finish
NC) Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing – Did Not Finish
NC) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo – Did Not Finish
With Verstappen in red-hot form and Red Bull Racing’s strong performance, Formula 1 fans eagerly await the upcoming races to witness the climax of what has been an exhilarating and unpredictable season.
