Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix for the fourth year in a row
Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix for the fourth time in a row on Sunday. The Dutch driver won his first race of the season in what many described as a dull race at the Suzuka circuit. Verstappen had laid the basis for his victory on Saturday when he took pole position after a fantastic qualifying lap in his Red Bull vehicle.
The victory puts Verstappen one point behind Lando Norris of McLaren in the season rankings after three races in the F1 season. The reigning champion has had a slower car than McLaren this season, but he has been able to get everything out of it thus far.
Verstappen made a good enough start to keep the lead after the start of the race, even though Norris’s reaction time was quicker. Although, Verstappen was having issues with his car’s upshift. The Red Bull team told him that the issue would likely be resolved in the next three to four laps, which proved to be the case.
It was a comfortable lead for Verstappen throughout the race. The only moment of tension came after the driver's only pit stop in the 12th lap. Verstappen came out of the pits and ended up driving side by side with Norris coming out of the pit lane. This resulted in Norris being forced to drive on the grass for a few seconds.
Norris claimed that Verstappen forced him onto the grass, while Verstappen, in turn, said Norris did it to himself. The F1 officials, the FIA, decided that no action was necessary as a result of the incident.
The pitstop resulted in Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli taking the lead in the race. Although this only lasted a few laps, it meant that the Italian driver broke Verstappen’s record of being the youngest driver to lead an F1 race at 18 years of age.
It was a comfortable closing stage of the race for Verstappen. Norris was unable to get close to him, and Oscar Piastri, the other McLaren driver who was in third, came up just short of catching Norris.
The two drivers completed the podium. Yuki Tsunoda, who was driving his first race as a Red Bull Racing driver, finished in 12th position.
