Max Verstappen of Red Bull has won the Japanese Grand Prix and broken a “mini-slump” of only two wins in his previous 16 races
Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix for his first victory of the Formula 1 seasonBy STEPHEN WADEAP Sports WriterThe Associated PressSUZUKA, Japan
SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Max Verstappen of Red Bull won Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix and broke a “mini-slump” of only two wins in his previous 16 races.
It was the Dutch driver’s fourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan and breaks the momentum of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won the season’s first two races in Melbourne, Australia, and Shanghai, China.
The four-time defending Formula 1 champion, Verstappen started from pole position after setting a course-record time in qualifying, which he called “insane.” Norris placed second and Piastri was third. The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day to produce an incident-free race.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth followed by George Russell of Mercedes and teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first drive with Red Bull’s top team.
“We keep pushing,” Verstappen said. “Unbelievable. A great weekend for us.”
Norris leads the driver’s standings after three races with 62 points to 61 for Verstappen.
The weekend turned when Verstappen took the pole on his record last lap Saturday in qualifying.
“If was fun, just pushing very hard at the end,” Verstappen said. “The two McLarens were pushing very hard. We didn’t give up improving the car and today it was in its best form.”
“Of course, starting on the pole — that’s what make it possible to win this race.”
Winning in Japan again with Red Bull and engine supplier Honda was important for Verstappen.
“It means a lot to me. It was in the back of my mind those last few laps, I was like ‘Wow, I need to try and stay ahead. It would be a great story, you know, our final like kind of farewell race together with Honda here in Japan.’
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved, of course, over all those years together, and I think it’s just like a perfect send off.”
Sunday’s start was clean with Verstappen taking the lead with the top starters on the grid falling into line behind him. Verstappen slowly stretched his lead and was two seconds ahead of Norris after 10 of 53 laps and kept the same advantage after 15.
Most of the leaders pitted around the 20-lap mark. Verstappen and Norris exited the pits at almost exactly the same time with Norris driving over the grass, unable to get by Verstappen.
“He drove himself into the grass,” Verstappen said on the radio.
Stewards said almost immediately the incident did not merit further investigation.
Antonelli led briefly in the middle of the race. At 18 he is the youngest to ever lead in F1 race.
Verstappen was back in the lead after 32 laps, only 1.3 seconds ahead of Norris and 3.4 up on Piastri. On the 36th lap the radio told him: “Push from here.”
He did just that, pushing all the way to his 64th career win.
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