Suzuka appeared resplendent because it took up its new place on the calendar in spring, the monitor consumed by stunning cherry blossoms. Crimson Bull’s season continued to bloom with a powerful efficiency in Japan – nevertheless it wasn’t so rosy for a few of their rivals. We select our winners and losers from the Japanese Grand Prix…
Winner: Max Verstappen
Regular service resumed for Max Verstappen in Japan, the Crimson Bull racer bouncing again from his first retirement in 43 races in Australia to clinch a convincing victory at probably the most difficult circuits on the calendar.
This was the reigning world champion’s third successive win at Suzuka, changing pole place for the thirtieth time in his profession, and his third victory in 4 Grands Prix this season.
The Dutchman grew to become the fourth driver in historical past to steer greater than 3000 laps of a Grand Prix, following Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, together with his win coming 10 years after he made his Grand Prix weekend debut in F1 with Toro Rosso.
Losers: Williams
Williams can’t catch a break proper now, the British crew enduring a second large crash in as many weeks when Logan Sargeant received up shut and private with the boundaries in first observe, the injury so important he missed FP2.
Alex Albon was then pitched into the tyre wall after simply three turns within the Grand Prix when he made contact with Daniel Ricciardo, leaving Williams with a fair greater injury invoice from Suzuka.
With each vehicles within the wars, each units of improve components they dropped at Japan have needed to be thrown within the bin – and so they now face a race towards time to supply extra for the subsequent race in China.
Winner: Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda is within the type of his life proper now, the Japanese driver unbeaten in his qualifying head-to-head with RB crew mate Ricciardo up to now this season after he made it into Q3 for the third race in succession.
After a poor getaway initially, which noticed him swallowed up by the sector behind, he made amends on the second restart (there was a crimson flag to restore the boundaries following Albon and Ricciardo’s collision) to claw his approach again into factors competition.
READ MORE: ‘Relieved’ Tsunoda hails ‘insane’ RB pit cease as he nets a degree on dwelling soil
He confirmed supreme tempo all through the Grand Prix, pulling off a few sensational strikes across the outdoors within the Esses to indicate his confidence in himself and the automobile on his solution to tenth.
That time made him the primary Japanese driver to attain in his dwelling race since Kamui Kobayashi achieved the feat in 2012.
Losers: Mercedes
Mercedes appeared like that they had made a breakthrough on Friday at Suzuka, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton describing FP1 as the perfect session they’ve had all yr with the automobile in a “sweeter spot”.
He certified seventh – which was his highest begin of the season – nonetheless the Silver Arrows have been too gradual within the first stint of the Grand Prix which dropped Hamilton and George Russell out of podium competition.
Hamilton ended up a lowly ninth – the primary time he has completed outdoors the top-five at Suzuka because the 2014 – whereas Russell was solely a few locations larger up in seventh.
Winner: Sergio Perez
Final time Sergio Perez arrived at Suzuka, he was struggling for type. This time, he responded to a disappointing end in Australia with a persistently sturdy efficiency throughout your complete Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
He ended up simply 0.066s off pole to safe his first-ever top-three begin at Suzuka in 12 visits to the circuit after which drove easily to transform that right into a podium and provides Crimson Bull their thirty first 1-2 end.
In doing so, he reclaimed second within the drivers’ championship and despatched one other signal to Crimson Bull that they need to signal him up for subsequent yr.
Loser: Daniel Ricciardo
Ricciardo was on the backfoot at Suzuka after having to offer his automobile as much as Ayumu Iwasa for FP1 after which getting no significant operating within the second session due to persistent moist climate.
Even after a tricky FP3, he pulled it collectively to take eleventh, only a fraction adrift on Tsunoda, in what was his greatest begin of the season.
Sadly, the Australian didn’t get an opportunity to see what he might do within the race as a collision with Albon ended his Grand Prix after simply three turns. The look ahead to a primary level of the season continues.
Winner: Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz got here out on prime in a strategic battle with McLaren and crew mate Charles Leclerc to clinch a 3rd podium of the season and preserve his 100% file of all the time successful a trophy in each race he has competed on this yr.
The Spaniard, who was persistently quick in each stint, has already matched his podium tally from final season – with 20 races nonetheless to go on this marketing campaign.
He sits fourth within the drivers’ standings, 4 factors behind Leclerc and solely 9 adrift of Perez, persevering with a positive run of type that comes at a time when he’s seeking to safe his future on the grid subsequent season.
Losers: Kick Sauber
Kick Sauber’s unrewarding begin to 2024 continued in Japan, as they failed to attain factors for the fourth race in succession.
The crew managed 4 pit stops with none issues (suggesting they’re beginning to get on prime of their points) however in prioritising reliability over pace, they have been slower than their direct rivals and that price Valtteri Bottas when a gaggle of 5 vehicles pitted on the identical time.
The Finn in the end got here dwelling 14th – equalling the crew’s greatest results of the yr – whereas Zhou Guanyu failed to complete due to a drivetrain subject.
READ MORE: What the groups mentioned – Race day in Japan
Winner: Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso described his race weekend as “one in every of my greatest for some time” the double world champion qualifying an excellent fifth with laps he mentioned have been on absolutely the restrict of the automobile.
He misplaced a place within the Grand Prix, however the race tempo total was stronger than it’s been all season to counsel the improve did its job and Aston Martin’s understanding of the automobile is enhancing.
Fifth in qualifying was his greatest begin at Suzuka for 10 years, whereas his end of sixth was a greatest outcome for him in Japan since 2013.
Losers: McLaren
McLaren got here to Suzuka with fond recollections having scored a double podium on the monitor final yr, and pre-event simulations urged the crew ought to excel on the circuit’s excessive pace turns to emerge as Crimson Bull’s closest challengers.
Nevertheless, it grew to become clear they couldn’t beat Ferrari on pure tempo and have been as an alternative in a battle with Mercedes and Aston Martin.
Lando Norris ended up fifth – ending 10 seconds additional behind Verstappen than he did final yr when he completed P2 – with crew mate Oscar Piastri eighth.
The positives for the British crew are that they continued their 100% scoring charge up to now in 2024 and stay third within the constructors’ championship – nonetheless they’re already greater than 50 factors behind second-placed Ferrari.
