Max Verstappen dominates at Suzuka to win Japanese GP and seal Constructors Championship for Red Bull; Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri complete podium for McLaren; Lewis Hamilton and George Russell twice go wheel to wheel as Mercedes finish fifth and seventh
By Jonathan Green at Suzuka
Last Updated: 24/09/23 7:46am
Max Verstappen claimed a dominant victory in an otherwise action-packed Japanese GP as Red Bull were crowned constructors’ champions for a sixth time.
After narrowly holding onto the lead ahead of Lando Norris at the first corner, pole-sitter Verstappen eased to victory by 19 seconds.
Verstappen’s 25 points mean that Red Bull can no longer be caught by Mercedes and Ferrari and are the first team to wrap up the Constructors’ Championship with six races remaining.
Norris finished second ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who secured his first podium finish in Formula 1.
Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari for the third consecutive race ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who twice battled wheel to wheel with Mercedes team-mate George Russell and did a brave overtake on old rival Fernando Alonso at 130R.
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Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell nearly collide as they battle it out for seventh at Suzuka
Carlos Sainz was sixth in the other Ferrari ahead of Russell, who had to settle for seventh having attempted to make a one-stop strategy work but slipped back in the closing stages.
Alonso was eighth for Aston Martin while Alpine secured a double points finish with Pierre Gasly ninth and Esteban Ocon 10th.
While Verstappen single-handedly delivered Red Bull their world title, it was a miserable afternoon for team-mate Sergio Perez who twice had to pit for new front wings after contact with Hamilton and Kevin Magnussen and then twice retired from the race.
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Sergio Perez tries to pass Kevin Magnussen but locks up and sends him spinning at Suzuka
Perez’s failure to score points means Verstappen now holds a 177-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship and could be crowned world champion in the Sprint race at the Qatar GP next time out.
Japanese GP result
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Lando Norris, McLaren
3) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
7) George Russell, Mercedes
8) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
9) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
10) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
More to follow…
What’s next?
After a two-week break, Formula 1 returns to the Losail Circuit for the second-ever Qatar Grand Prix from October 6-8.
The Sprint weekend offers Max Verstappen his first chance to wrap up the Drivers’ Championship and become a three-time world champion.
The Dutchman requires an advantage of at least 146 points to be crowned champion in Qatar.
Will Max Verstappen wrap up his third world championship at the first attempt at the Qatar GP? Watch every session of the Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from October 6-8. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW. Cancel anytime
