Verstappen's Masterful Performance
Verstappen's performance was nothing short of spectacular. Despite early attacks from Piastri and Norris, he held his ground, navigated through Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car periods, and then surged ahead to claim his 13th win of the season. This victory also put the constructors' championship out of rivals' reach, marking Red Bull's second consecutive win and their sixth overall, having previously won in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2022.
Norris Outpaces Piastri, Leclerc Leads Ferrari
A tense battle between McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri was ultimately won by Norris. He managed to overtake Piastri after the latter pitted under a Virtual Safety Car, showcasing enough pace to warrant a team position swap.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc led Ferrari's charge in the fourth position, executing a bold late move on Mercedes' George Russell, who was the only front-runner to attempt a one-stop rather than a two-stop strategy.
Hamilton Overtakes Russell, Sainz Seizes Sixth
In the closing laps, Russell fell prey to teammate Lewis Hamilton and was instructed to let him pass, which he did. Carlos Sainz capitalized on Russell's ageing tyres to take sixth behind Hamilton. Despite a first-lap incident, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, along with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly of Alpine, scored the final points of the day.
AlphaTauri's Fade, Zhou's Recovery
AlphaTauri, despite starting 9th and 11th, faded as the various strategies played out. F1 newcomer Liam Lawson beat home favourite Yuki Tsunoda to the flag in 11th and 12th respectively. Zhou Guanyu bounced back from a Lap 1 drama to finish 13th, the only Alfa Romeo driver to finish the race.
Perez's Retirement, Verstappen's Victory
Red Bull's Sergio Perez suffered multiple incidents that forced him to pit for a second new front wing, leading to his retirement. Despite Perez's retirement, Verstappen's victory was enough to secure the team their sixth constructors' championship, sparking wild and emotional celebrations in the Suzuka pit lane.
In conclusion, the Japanese Grand Prix was a testament to Verstappen's skill and Red Bull's strategic prowess.
