Triple world champion Max Verstappen yesterday romped to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, leading teammate Sergio Perez to a dominant one-two finish for Red Bull.
Verstappen failed to finish in Australia a fortnight ago, but he was in control for the entire race at Suzuka after starting from pole and claimed his third win from four grands prix this season.
The Dutchman finished 12.535 seconds ahead of Perez, who came home in front of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in dry, sunny conditions.
Photo: EPA-EFE Warning: Excessive consumption of alcohol can damage your health
“The critical bit was the start, to stay ahead,” Verstappen said. “After that, the car just got better and better... Everything just went very well. It couldn’t have been any better.”
Sainz, who triumphed in Australia, took third ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who started from eighth on the grid.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, second in last year’s race, was fifth ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Mercedes’ George Russell edged out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for seventh, while Lewis Hamilton was ninth in the other Mercedes.
Verstappen was starting from pole for the fourth time in as many races this season and stamped his authority on the race from the off, leading Perez to the first turn.
He said this week that Suzuka was one of his favorite circuits and he has now won the Japanese Grand Prix three times in a row.
He was back to his breathtaking best after a brake issue in Melbourne saw him retire from a race for the first time in two years.
“It was a little hiccup the last race, but I’m very happy that we’re back on top,” said Verstappen, who has taken an early stranglehold on the world championship.
Perez, who failed to finish at Suzuka last year, picked up his third runner-up finish of the season.
“I think we have a good momentum,” Perez said. “Last year here was probably my worst weekend, so I think if we are strong here I think we can be strong anywhere else.”
Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda was 10th for RB, scoring points at his home grand prix for the first time.
The race was red-flagged on only the second lap after RB’s Daniel Ricciardo and Williams’ Alex Albon collided in a frenetic start.
Albon’s front wing clipped into the rear of Ricciardo’s car as they jockeyed for position and both slammed into the wall before getting out unscathed, but their race was over.
The action resumed from a standing start and Verstappen picked up from where he left off ahead of Perez.
Leclerc took over the lead after Verstappen pitted on his 17th lap, but the Red Bull driver was back in front four laps later.
Verstappen and Perez consolidated their positions, leaving Norris fighting for third against the two Ferraris. A late lock-up cost the McLaren driver his chance of a podium finish.
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
Less than a week after splashing out a world-record fee for Naomi Girma, Chelsea has spent big again to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the English Women’s Super League. Walsh left European champions Barcelona after more than two years to join Chelsea for a reported ￡400,000 (US$496,000) on Friday. Walsh was the world’s most expensive player for two years after moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for a reported ￡400,000 in 2022. That status now belongs to Girma, the US defender who cost Chelsea a reported ￡900,000 to sign from the San Diego Wave. Still, it means 27-year-old Walsh — a technically
Ousmane Dembele on Wednesday scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 4-1 win at VfB Stuttgart and qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. PSG were at risk of elimination after a disappointing league stage, with three losses and a draw, but were utterly dominant against an outclassed Stuttgart side as they confirmed their place in the playoffs. With six minutes gone, Bradley Barcola headed PSG in front after Desire Doue stood a cross up at the back post following a corner. Stuttgart probed for an equalizer, but PSG hit on the counterattack, Dembele tapping a Barcola pass into an
RSS