RACE REPORT | F1 Japan 2023

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, delivered a commanding performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, sealing victory and securing the Constructors' Cup for his Red Bull team with six races remaining. The Dutch driver showcased his prowess by defeating Lando Norris by a remarkable margin of over 19 seconds at Suzuka. Another McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri, claimed the third position, marking his maiden career podium finish.

At just 25 years old, Verstappen celebrated his 13th win of the season, extending his career total to 48 victories. He also inched closer to clinching a third consecutive championship title, especially after the withdrawal of his teammate, Sergio Pérez, during the race. Verstappen now holds a commanding 177-point lead over the Mexican driver in the championship standings. His championship victory celebration could take place at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled from October 6th to 8th, where an additional points sprint event is on the agenda.

Verstappen managed to put behind him the setback from just a week ago in Singapore, where he finished fifth and ended a record streak of ten consecutive wins. While facing early challenges in Japan, including a poor start, he skillfully defended his lead against the persistent efforts of Piastri and Norris. Several incidents unfolded at the rear of the field, with Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Kuan-yu, Alexander Albon, and Esteban Ocon sustaining damage to their cars during intense battles. The safety car was deployed due to debris on the track, and Bottas later collided with Logan Sargeant, forcing him to retire from the race.

Pérez's race day also took a downturn as he fell to 18th place following an early tire change and received a five-second penalty for a rule violation while following the safety car. Subsequently, Pérez collided with Haas' Kevin Magnussen, necessitating a front wing replacement. Upon rejoining the race, he pushed Norris off the track during a virtual safety car period before eventually retiring. He made a brief return on lap 40 to serve his penalty for the prior collision but did not continue.

Verstappen maintained a secure lead ahead of the McLaren duo throughout the race. Mercedes' George Russell attempted a one-stop strategy instead of two, but as the race progressed, he lost ground and slipped to seventh place by the end. The podium featured Norris and Piastri, with their positions unchanged from the race start. Piastri's achievement was particularly notable as he secured a podium finish in his debut season in the Royal Automobile class. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed the fourth position, while AlphaTauri's Júki Cunoda finished twelfth, outside the scoring positions.