Red Bull's Verstappen posts first F1 victory of the season at Suzuka

SUZUKA, Japan — Max Verstappen of Red Bull won Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix and broke a "mini-slump" of just 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 McLaren drivers Briton Lando Norris and Australian Oscar Piastri, who won the season's first two races in Melbourne and Shanghai, respectively.

The four-time defending Formula One 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, delivering an incident-free race.

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by Briton George Russell of Mercedes. Russell's teammate, Italian racer Kimi Antonelli, came in sixth, but not before breaking Lewis Hamilton's 2019 race lap record with a blistering 1 minute, 30.965 second run.

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. Verstappen is breathing down his neck with 61.

The weekend turned when Verstappen took the pole on his record-breaking last qualifying lap Saturday.

"It 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 pole — that's what makes 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 these years together, and I think it's just, like, a perfect send off."

Sunday's start was clean, as Verstappen took the lead, with the top starters on the grid falling into line behind him.

Verstappen slowly stretched his advantage, and was two seconds ahead of Norris after 10 laps, a lead he maintained after lap 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.

Almost immediately Stewards said the incident did not merit further investigation.

"He was still ahead, it kind of squeezes into one, and Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space," Norris said afterwards.

Antonelli led briefly in the middle of the race.

At 18 he is the youngest to ever lead an F1 race — breaking a record set by Verstappen in 2016.

It didn't take long before the Dutchman was back in front, though, and by 32 laps he was 1.3 seconds ahead of Norris and 3.4 up on Piastri.

The Australian pressed his teammate hard over the last 10 laps, and told the team he felt he had the pace to pip Verstappen at the post, but Norris held his position, and Piastri could only watch as his Dutch rival cruised to victory.

"The track position around here is so important.

"Yesterday was the day you win the race, and I didn't do a good enough job," Piastri said.

"I felt, if I had the track position, I could go and get Max, but that is what happens when you qualify behind."

On the 36th lap the radio told Verstappen to "push from here".

He did just that, pushing all the way to his 64th career win.

Agencies