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F1 Japan GP LIVE: Race result as Lando Norris fails to catch Max Verstappen at Suzuka
Follow reaction as Verstappen claims a terrific win ahead of both McLarens in Suzuka
Max Verstappen won his first race of the season after again tussling with Lando Norris at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Norris has been well clear of the four-time world champion so far this season as McLaren won the opening two races – one each for the Briton and Oscar Piastri. But Verstappen upset the form book on Saturday by producing a scintillating qualifying lap to claim a shock pole and the pair reignited their rivalry at Suzuka.
The drama arrived at the pit stop as they came together on the exit – Norris driving over the grass on Verstappen’s inside as the accusations flew. The stewards did not agree with Norris’ claim that he was pushed off and no action was taken as Verstappen retained his advantage and kept the championship leader at arm’s length to cut the gap to one point.
It was an otherwise uneventful race at Suzuka, with Lewis Hamilton passing Isack Hadjar to finish seventh the only change to the starting order in the top 10.
Follow latest updates from the Japanese Grand Prix with The Independent
JAPAN GP PREVIEW: The challenge facing Yuki Tsunoda? To master a car built for Max Verstappen
Out of all the drivers who have tried and failed to fulfil their promise at Red Bull, Alex Albon put it best – in a non-F1 spiel – in explaining the seismic challenge one faces with a car engineered to the demands of the team’s leading driver, Max Verstappen.
Now forming one-half of Williams’s impressive driver line-up alongside Carlos Sainz after a difficult 18-month spell at Red Bull in 2019-20, Albon told The High Performace Podcast in 2023: “I would say my driving style is a bit more on the smooth side, but I like a car that has a good front-end, so quite sharp, quite direct.
“Max does too, but his level of sharp and direct is a whole different level – it’s eye-wateringly sharp.”
Full preview below:
The challenge facing Yuki Tsunoda? To master a car built for Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen stands by reaction to Liam Lawson’s Red Bull F1 axe: ‘I liked the comment’
Max Verstappen has admitted his “like” of a social media post criticising Red Bull’s decision to drop Liam Lawson was “not a mistake”, ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Lawson was dropped after a torrid first two races of the season in Australia and China, with Yuki Tsunoda picked to replace him. Lawson drops back down to the junior team, Racing Bulls, while Tsunoda makes his Red Bull debut at his home race in Suzuka this weekend.
Yet Verstappen raised eyebrows last week when he liked an Instagram post by ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, which stated Red Bull’s decision to drop Lawson was “closer to bullying or a panic move.”
Verstappen, who is eyeing a fifth straight world championship this year, refused to elaborate further on his opinion on the early-season driver swap – other than to confirm that his Instagram like was “not a mistake.”
Full story below:
Verstappen stands by reaction to Lawson’s Red Bull F1 axe: ‘I liked the comment’
George Russell after qualifying fifth:
“It was a real shame, pretty disappointed with P5 as have been feeling good all weekend. Tried something different with the tyres, but it didn’t work. Disappointed, but it could be much worse.
“We’re there or thereabouts in the fight for a podium, not sure with the win. But if changeable conditions come, like in Melbourne, then who knows?”
Oscar Piastri after qualifying P3:
“Car felt good through most of qualifying – the last lap, didn’t quite come together as I wanted but incredibly tight margins, it’s still all to play for tomorrow. A little bit more left on the table… try again tomorrow.
“We’ve got good pace, the others have not been as far away as people think – this morning was pretty tight, it’s not a massive surprise. Max has done a great job to end up on pole, we’ve got a great car for tomorrow.
“Our pace has been good in all conditions.”
NEW STARTING GRID AFTER SAINZ PENALTY:
1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Kimi Antonelli
7. Isack Hadjar
8. Lewis Hamilton
9. Alex Albon
10. Ollie Bearman
11. Pierre Gasly
12. Fernando Alonso
13. Liam Lawson
14. Yuki Tsunoda
15. Carlos Sainz*
16. Nico Hulkenberg
17. Gabriel Bortoleto
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Jack Doohan
20. Lance Stroll
*Sainz was given a three-place grid penalty after impeding Lewis Hamilton in qualifying
Kimi Antonelli after qualifying P6:
“In FP3, I was lost, I had zero confidence, I was really struggling to improve.
“Qualifying was a good step forward, I had to make such a step it was too big. I need to be more proactive in practice, try and find the limit a bit better.”
NEW: Carlos Sainz receives penalty
Sainz has been given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Lewis Hamilton during qualifying.
Looked a slam-dunk to be fair. It means Sainz drops from 12th to 15th.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella on qualifying:
“Hats off to Verstappen, he pulled off a lap which was quite impressive. He is the world champion four times, there’s a reason for that - well done to him.”
Max Verstappen: "This is a proper highlight for us"
On pole position: “We tried the best we could to get the best possible balance, every session we made little improvements, that’s where we made the difference - the last lap was flat out.
“Being around here being on the limit or even over it is very rewarding.
“This is a proper highlight for us to be back on pole here, we will look to tomorrow, we’ll do our very best.”
A new lap record at Suzuka, too, and Verstappen will start from pole in a grand prix for the first time since Austria 2024!
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