The reigning world champion erased his withdrawal from the final Australian Grand Prix on Sunday after a race controlled from start to finish.
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After a tighter-than-expected qualifying between the two Red Bulls, the Japanese Grand Prix offered no suspense on Sunday 7 April. Max Verstappen, who started from pole position, won without any controversy, two weeks after retiring in Australia. The reigning world champion beat team-mate Sergio Pérez for Red Bull’s third double in four Grands Prix. Melbourne winner Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) completes the podium ahead of his neighbor Charles Leclerc, the author of a good comeback from eighth place at the start.
The scenario of the Suzuka race was sewn together like a white thread. The Red Bulls, far ahead of the qualifiers, confirmed their dominance on the Japanese track. Three-time world champion Verstappen relinquished control only during the pit stop, not doubting for a moment the outcome of the Grand Prix. The Dutchman registers his third consecutive victory at the Suzuka circuit and confirms that the technical development that Japan has brought to its training seems to be successful.
Driving for Verstappen, suffering for Alpine
The fight was mostly fought behind, for places of honor. While Lando Norris (McLaren) seemed comfortably within reach of third place, the British team erred in their strategy, forcing their driver to finish behind the two Ferraris. Norris hoped for better, in a Grand Prix that saw a rare case of a red flag following a minor accident after three turns between Alex Albon (Williams) and Daniel Ricciardo (Racing Bulls).
Ricciardo’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda thrilled the home crowd by taking the final point from 10th place. Further down the pecking order, Alpine had a very complicated Sunday. The French team, who also made technical changes to their car, saw Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly touch on the second start before finishing very far back in 15th and 16th, one lap behind the winner.