Max Verstappen, the world champion, secured his third consecutive pole-to-flag victory at the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, leading his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to a one-two finish at the Suzuka Circuit.
After suffering his first retirement since 2022 in Melbourne, Verstappen bounced back with a flawless performance, winning three out of four races this season without any mechanical issues.
“That was a very lovely race, the car just got better and better,” Verstappen expressed over the team radio.
Carlos Sainz, the winner in Australia two weeks ago, managed to secure the third spot, edging out his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in a tough battle.
“It was tough out there,” Sainz commented on the challenging race.
Lando Norris of McLaren finished fifth, while the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton came in seventh and ninth, respectively.
The race saw a dramatic start as Alex Albon’s Williams and Daniel Ricciardo’s RB collided on the opening lap, causing a red flag and a 30-minute delay. Both drivers emerged unharmed.
Yuki Tsunoda of RB finished 10th, earning points in his home grand prix for the first time, much to the delight of the crowd.
With 77 points, Verstappen now leads the F1 drivers’ championship standings, followed by teammate Sergio Perez with 64 points.
Red Bull leads the constructor standings with 141 points, ahead of Ferrari (120) and McLaren (69).
Source from www.aljazeera.com