F1 Japanese Grand Prix LIVE: Race results as Max Verstappen wins after Daniel Ricciardo crash
F1 updates from the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit as Verstappen starts once more from the front
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Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.
The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.
His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.
Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan. The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.
Follow live updates from the Japanese Grand Prix with The Independent
TOP-10 AT THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
1. Max Verstappen
2. Sergio Perez
3. Carlos Sainz
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Lando Norris
6. Fernando Alonso
7. George Russell
8. Oscar Piastri
9. Lewis Hamilton
10. Yuki Tsunoda
A point for Yuki Tsunoda at his home race!
Toto Wolff believes ‘no one is going to catch’ Max Verstappen in F1 title race
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insists Max Verstappen’s fourth consecutive title is already a foregone conclusion after the Red Bull driver cruised to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Verstappen returned to winning ways in dominant fashion as the reigning drivers’ champion triumphed at Suzuka. Having retired last time out in Australia, it was normal service resumed for the Dutchman as he led home a Red Bull one-two with Sergio Perez finishing second.
Verstappen twice led into the first corner off the line after the race was restarted following a first-lap incident which saw both Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon crash out after making contact.
From there, Verstappen controlled the pace and the result never looked in doubt, as he took the chequered flag and the fastest lap to open up a 13-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship.
Toto Wolff believes ‘no one is going to catch’ Max Verstappen in F1 title race
The Dutchman returned to winning ways in dominant fashion as the reigning drivers’ champion triumphed at Suzuka
Daniel Ricciardo after his crash:
“It was all very much under a racing incident. Yuki and myself struggled a lot on the medium at the start. Got away poorly and cars around us ate us up.
“I could see an Aston on the outside and to be honest, I didn’t see Alex. Everyone got bottled up in turn three. Not the way you want Sunday to go. In hindsight, we should have put a soft on. That’s what happens.”
Race report: Max Verstappen coasts to victory in Japan after Daniel Ricciardo crashes out
Max Verstappen returned to winning ways in dominant fashion as the world champion cruised to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Having retired last time out in Australia, it was normal service resumed for the Dutchman at Suzuka where he led home a Red Bull one-two as Sergio Perez finished second.
Verstappen twice led into the first corner off the line after the race was restarted following a first-lap incident.
From there he controlled the pace of the race and the result never looked in doubt, with Verstappen taking the chequered flag and the fastest lap to open up a 13-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship as he aims for a fourth successive title.
Lewis Hamilton sharply hits out at Mercedes strategy in Japanese Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton was left feeling exasperated during Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, imploring midway through the race for his Mercedes team to “change the strategy.”
Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton, who joins Ferrari next year, finished ninth at Suzuka and again behind team-mate George Russell – who finished seventh.
Mercedes opted for a bold tyre strategy following the early red flag, switching to a hard tyre as they attempted to go for a one-stop strategy after the restart.
However, with cars comfortably overtaking both Hamilton and Russell, the 39-year-old was unhappy with the direction his team took, stating sharply over team radio: “Change the strategy!”
Lewis Hamilton sharply hits out at Mercedes strategy in Japan
The seven-time world champion was unhappy with Mercedes’ tyre approach during the race at Suzuka
Lando Norris after finishing fifth:
“It was a tough race, compared to the Ferraris - not enough. It doesn’t feel great when you start third and go backwards, fighting a losing battle against these guys. It’s hard to fight on a track like this.
We got the maximum points behind these guys that we could do.
Charles did a good job to go that far on one set of tyres. Surprised we box as early as we did, just copied what the Ferraris did. Maybe a discussion on what we could’ve done for P4.
Feel close to Ferrari? “No, no. Ferrari clearly ahead. There’s no reason why we should be ahead. So no.”
Time for the podium!
The familiar tune - though we didn’t have it two weeks ago - rings out in Suzuka of the Dutch and Austrian national anthems!
Verstappen’s 57th victory in F1.
Max Verstappen after finishing first:
“It was a very nice. The critical bit was the start. Everything went really well, couldn’t have been any better.
“Very happy to be back on top, fantastic of course to win here.
On China: “Quite hectic. We haven’t been there for a while, only one practice session to get into it.”
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