Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dominated the Japanese Grand Prix to take his 13th victory of the year and help his team clinch the constructors’ title.
The Dutchman fended off a brief challenge from the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the first two corners and then motored away into a race of his own.
Norris passed his team-mate as the Australian had to back off for Verstappen’s defence and went on to second place. Piastri followed him home in third for his first podium in his debut season.
The McLaren drivers had to pass Mercedes driver George Russell after the final pit stops as the Briton tried a rare one-stop strategy after an early hectic and feisty battle with team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Russell’s gamble failed to pay off – after the McLarens passed him, both into Turn One, he was then passed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for fourth with a lovely move around the outside of Turns One and Two.
In the closing laps, he also lost out to Hamilton and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and dropped down to seventh.
It was a day to forget for Williams who had to retire both cars during the race along with Stroll and for Sergio Perez.
Trying to make up ground from his first mishap, he made a clumsy overtaking attempt on Kevin Magnussen’s Haas at the hairpin and clattered into the Dane, breaking his front wing again.
Red Bull tried to get him back into the race but the car was irretrievably damaged.
He pulled into the pits to retire, but in almost comedic scenes, after sitting around for many laps, he had to rejoin to serve a penalty for colliding with Magnussen, before finally retiring for good.
Alonso, Ocon & Gasly completed the top 10 positions. Verstappen can clinch his 3rd drivers title in 2 weeks time at Qatar.
