Max Verstappen clinched his third consecutive victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, marking a milestone not seen since Michael Schumacher’s dominance two decades ago.
Verstappen’s triumph in Japan was dominant yet almost understated, leading a Red Bull one-two finish and extending his lead over teammate Sergio Perez to 14 points.
The race was characterized by the intense battle among teams over tyre strategies, which kept Verstappen out of the limelight despite his commanding performance.
This win marked Verstappen’s third consecutive victory in Japan, a feat unmatched since Michael Schumacher’s reign in 2000, 2001, and 2002. He finished a comfortable 12.535 seconds ahead of Perez, with Carlos Sainz securing the final podium spot ahead of his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.
The start of the race saw Verstappen maintaining his lead from pole position, with Perez, Norris, Sainz, and Alonso following closely behind.
However, a major incident involving Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon resulted in a red flag and a 28-minute delay. Both drivers escaped unharmed, but the race had to be halted for repairs.
After the restart, Verstappen retained his lead while Hamilton lost ground, slipping to seventh behind Leclerc. Meanwhile, Bottas and Hulkenberg, who started on soft tyres, were forced to pit early, dropping the order.
As tyre degradation set in, several drivers made pit stops, with Norris and Piastri losing positions due to traffic. Hamilton and Russell switched to hard tyres, hoping for better performance. Norris impressed after the first round of stops, gaining ground on Verstappen, who was on a different tyre strategy.
Verstappen’s lead remained unchallenged as he cruised ahead of the pack, while Perez and Alonso made their second stops for hard tyres. Verstappen followed suit, with Sainz briefly leading before making his pit stop.
Russell and Hamilton opted for medium tyres for the closing stint, giving them an advantage over rivals on hard tyres. However, Williams’ Logan Sargeant’s mistake and Norris’s lock-up added late drama to the race.
Despite late challenges, Verstappen maintained his lead to secure his third successive victory in Japan, with Perez finishing second and Sainz third. Russell’s impressive drive saw him claim seventh place, although his battle with Piastri may lead to scrutiny from race stewards.
