The Japanese Grand Prix is one race that most, if not all, F1 fans look forward to each season. And, in 2023, it was no different, with plenty of questions to be answered after last week's Singapore Grand Prix, which saw the first non-Red Bull winner of 2023 - Carlos Sainz. But, how would Red Bull fare being back in Suzuka now that the harsh streets of Singapore were firmly behind them? That's what everyone wanted to know.
Well, that answer came swiftly at the start of the weekend, with Max Verstappen topping all three practice sessions before sticking his car on pole, comfortably ahead of the McLarens in 2nd and 3rd. The Red Bull seemed to have to returned to it's dominate form. However, the real test would be during the Grand Prix, itself.
Race day, and it's the first dry Japanese Grand Prix in Formula One since 2019. Williams' driver, Logan Sargeant, starts from the pitlane after a crash in qualifying. He's also already picked himself up a 10-second penalty, with the FIA deciding that the team had effectively built him a new car overnight. Back on the grid, Verstappen leads the cars around the track before lining up in formation. The race is a go!
The top three of Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris get a good getaway, but it's Verstappen leading into turn one. Further back there is contact between Sergio Perez, in the second Red Bull, and Lewis Hamilton, in the Mercedes, which sets off a chain reaction-like effect, with more drivers tangling further back. Despite this, although battered and bruised, everyone is through turn one. With debris on track, the race is neutralised and the safety car deployed. The Alfa Romeos look worse for wear, with a right, front puncture and damaged front wing for Valtteri Bottas, and, what looks like some of a Williams front wing, stuck on the front of Zhou Guanyu's front wing. Both drivers, along with Alexander Albon in the Williams and Esteban Ocon in the Alpine, come into the pits for repairs. The following lap, still behind the safety car, Perez also pits for a new front wing.
With the Safety Car inbound at any moment, Verstappen backs the pack up before flooring it onto the pit straight. There is more carnage into turn eleven with Bottas off in the gravel. Replays show that Sargeant made contact with the Finn, spinning him off, before he manages to get going once again. Both with damage, it's another trip to the pits for Bottas. Sargeant joins him.
After having a look at the first lap incidents, the stewards decide that no further action will be taken. The same can't be said for the Bottas/Sargeant incident, with the latter getting a slam dunk five second penalty. And, he's not the only one. Perez is also handed a five second penalty because of a Safety Car infringement.
With the first ten laps behind us, it's still Verstappen out front. He leads Norris and Piastri by nearly four seconds. Our first proper pitstops are underway with Daniel Ricciardo's replacement, Liam Lawson, coming in for Alpha Tauri. Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin also make a stop, switching to hards.
Perez, who's been making up ground nicely since his trip to the pits on lap two, attempts a move on Kevin Magnussen. However, the Red Bull driver is too optimistic and sends the Haas spinning. Both with damage, they limp back to the pits. As Piastri pits from third, a virtual safety car is deployed to clean up the debris from the Magnussen/Perez clash. Perez, who is back out on track, tells his team over radio, "the car doesn't feel right." As a second five second penalty comes his way, he retires the car.
With the VSC now at an end, Ferrari tell Charles Leclerc; "box, opposite McLaren," which could suggest they're about try the undercut. Hamilton has a moment at the second Degner, going wide and allowing teammate, George Russell, to catch up, latching onto Hamilton's tail. However, it's not over for the Mercedes driver, pushing his teammate off track as he goes wide at Spoon. He quickly pits and is joined by Verstappen, Norris, home hero - Yuki Tsunoda and Lawson. Russell, who was stuck behind Hamilton, now finds himself in the lead, which is quickly taken away by Verstappen after a lunge at the hairpin.
Alonso, who is on older tyres than most, is falling down the order. He tells his engineer that they have"thrown him to the lions." Russell, on the other hand, is enjoying life on his older tyres. "Consider Plan B," he tells the Mercedes team. McLaren reiterate this to Norris, "we think Russell will try for a one-stop. Therefore, he is only a threat if we abuse our tyres." Meanwhile in the pits, there is another retirement. This time it's Lance Stroll with a failed rear wing on his Aston Martin.
In an attempt to make his one stop work, Russell pits on lap twenty-five, fitting the hard tyre. He comes back onto the track in ninth, behind Ocon and Alonso who are squabbling for the final point positions. However, the Brit isn't there long, getting past the duo rather quickly. Back up front, Norris posts the fastest lap of the race and asks his team to switch positions with the other McLaren driver, Piastri, who currently sits ahead of Norris in second. Norris dives down the inside at turn one but is stopped in his tracks by his teammate. Norris, confused, is back on the team radio. "What is he doing?" he asks them. On lap twenty-seven, the positions are reversed.
After starting from the pit lane, Sargeant takes another trip into there. However, it's the end of the road for the Williams driver as he parks up his car into the garage, making him the fourth retirement from the race. No, make that five retirements. Second Williams driver Albon also pulls into the garage, leaving only fifteen cars left on track. Things start to look interesting down at Red Bull, with Perez, who retired early on, being strapped back into his car. If he does go back out on track, he'll be a massive fifteen laps down.
Over half way and the second pit stops begin to take effect. Alonso comes in, followed by Tsunoda. We also see new tyres for Leclerc, Hamilton, Piastri, Gasly, Norris, Verstappen and Sainz. Verstappen comes out and retains his lead, setting the new fastest lap of the race in the process; a 1:34.183. As for Verstappen's teammate, he looks as if he's finally ready to rejoin the race, which he does. Twenty-six laps down.
Finding himself in fourth after the pit stops, Piastri is on a mission to get back in a podium position. He attempts a move on Russell, using DRS, but is too far back. He tries again the next time around, making it stick into turn one. He's back in the top three. Perez, who has done an out lap, pitted and then another out lap, is told to"retire the car." A double DNF for Red Bull, but with one car still running. You can't make this up.
Russell's tyres seem to be giving up after his one stop. He now has Leclerc right on his gearbox, with Hamilton not far behind again. Leclerc makes a move going into turn one and turn two, leaving the Mercedes pair to squabble it out behind. However, they need to be careful, the second Ferrari of Sainz is catching the duo rapidly. After Leclerc's impressive pass on Russell, the Monegasque finds himself under investigation for passing off the track. But it's ok. There will be no further action.
Less than ten laps to go and there are teammate battles all over the track, with the Mercedes duo, Alpine duo and Alpha Tauri duo all within one second of each other. The Mercedes battle starts to heat up and both drivers are told; "give each other room." Hamilton, however, seems to be the faster car but can find no way past Russell. Eventually, they are told to revert positions, but Russell disagrees, thinking they can find away to copy Sainz's tactic from Singapore. Giving in, he let's Hamilton past, who is told to keep giving Russell DRS. It's no use. Sainz slips up the inside into turn one, taking the position from Russell.
Onto the last lap and it's Verstappen who leads, twenty seconds ahead of Norris, who is sixteen seconds ahead of Piastri. But at the end of the day it's Verstappen back on top, taking a thirteenth win of 2023 and scoring enough points to crown Red Bull as constructors champions! Norris comes home second and Piastri third to claim a double podium for the McLaren team. Leclerc is fourth, with Hamilton fifth and Sainz, sixth. The final points go to Russell, Alonso, Ocon and a very frustrated Pierre Gasly.
So there it is. Our questions have been answered and Singapore was just a blip for the Bulls. Congratulations to Red Bull for another World Championship. Will there be more celebration in Qatar for the team?
See you in a fortnight!
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