Race Notes - Verstappen wins in Japan from pole

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, in his Red Bull-Honda. Lando Norris in the McLaren-Mercedes finished second, 1.423 seconds behind. His McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri finished third, 2.129 behind the winner.

The win is Verstappen’s fourth year winning theJapanese GP in a row, and his 64th career win. Verstappen closes Norris’ championship lead to just one point.

Charles Leclerc (16.097s) in the Ferrari finished fourth, followed by George Russell (17.362s) in the Mercedes GP was fifth, his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli (18.671s) was sixth, Lewis Hamilton (29.182s) in the second Ferrari was seventh, Isack Hadjar (37.134s) in the Racing Bulls-Honda took his first career points in eighth, Alex Albon (40.367s) in the Williams-Mercedes was ninth, and Oliver Bearman (54.529s) in the Haas-Ferrari took the final points paying position in tenth place.

Fernando Alonso was 11th, Yuki Tsunoda 12, Pierre Gasly 13th, Carlos Sainz 14th, Doohan 15th, followed by Hulkenberg, Lawson, Ocon, Bortoleto, and Stroll 20th.

It rained earlier in the morning, and as the start approached it was overcast and quickly drying with a small chance of further rain.

At the appointed time the cars took to the formation lap, the lights went out, and the race began with Verstappen got off into the first corner, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Russell, Antonelli, Hadjar, Hamilton, Albon and Bearman in the to ten.

On lap 1 Verstappen leads Norris by a second, the drivers keeping it clean.

On lap 2 Antonelli cuts the final chicane but continues.

On lap 3 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.639 and leads Norris by 1.2 seconds, the rest of the top 10 remaining in line - Yuki Tsunoda in 13th place.

On lap 6 Hamilton passes Hadjar for seventh place into the first corner.

On lap 7 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.526s, and leads Norris by 2.0 seconds.

Some teams are telling drivers there will be a brief shower at lap 20.

On lap 9 Norris sets fast lap at 1m33.512s.

At lap 10 Verstappen leads Norris by 2.1 seconds, followed by Piastri (3.6s), Leclerc (5.4s), Russell (6.2s), Antonelli (8.1s), Hamilton (9.9s), Hadjar (12.4s), Albon (13.9s), and Bearman (16.0s) in tenth.

On lap 11 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m33.479s, and again the next lap at 1m33.334s, and then 1m33.253s.

On lap 16 Doohan is the first to pit along with Stroll both changing onto hard tyres.

Carlos Sainz cuts the final chicane and runs 15th.

On lap 19 Norris sets fast lap at 1m32.099s.

On lap 19 Russell pits from fifth and changes to hard tyres and rejoins 13th.

On lap 20 Piastri pits for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

On lap 21 Verstappen, Norris and Leclerc pit for hard tyres and rejoin fifth, sixth and tenth - Antonelli takes the lead (the youngest ever leader on an F1 race).

Verstappen and Norris battle back onto to the track out of the pitlane.

Vertappen seems to think that Norris let go of the pitlane limiter too early.

On lap 24 Tsunoda pits for medium tyres and rejoins 13th.

At lap 25 Antonelli leads Hamilton by 3.3 seconds, followed by Hadjar (6.4s), Albon (9.2s), Verstappen (10.8s),Norris (13.1s), Piastri 14.7s), Bearman (15.6s), Alonso (16.3s) and Leclerc (18.4s) in tenth.

On lap 28 Norris sets fast lap at 1m32,084s.

On lap 29 Albon passes Ocon for 11th.

On lap 30 Hadjar passes Sainza for ninth. Hamilton pirts from second for medium tyres and rejoins seventh. Piastri sets fast lap at 1m32.047s.

On lap 31 Antonelli pits for hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

On lap 32 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m31.734s, and retakes the lead, 1,3 seconds ahead of Norris.

On lap 33 Albon passes Lawson for ninth.

Antonelli sets fast lap at 1m31.400s.

At lap 35 Verstappen leads over Norris by 1.5 seconds, followed by Piastri (2.8s), Leclerc (9.5s), Russell (13.1s), Antonelli (21.1s), Hamilton (22.8s), Hadjar (31.9s), Albon (36.3s), and Bearman (40.4s) in tenth place.

Red Bull radioa to Verstappen that he is fine to push to the end of the race.

Sainz passes Lawson for 16th.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Norris by 1.3 seconds, followed by Piastri (2.2s), Leclerc (10.7s), Russell (13.8s), Antonelli (20.7s), Hamilton (23.5s), Hadkar (33.2s), Albon (38.5s), and Bearman (43.2s) in tenth.

With 10 laps to go Verstappen leads Norris bt 1.6 seconds and Piastri is 0.8s behind Norris and feels on the radio that he is quicker than Norris.

On lap 45 Antonelli sets fast lap at 1m31.072s.

Sainz passes Hulkenberg for 15th.

At lap 50 Verstappen leads Norris by 1.4 seconds, followed by Piastri (2.4s), Leclerc (14.2s), Russell (16.6s), Antonelli (19.0s), Hamilton (28.3s), Hadjar (s36.7), Albon (40.5s) and Bearman (51.1s) in tenth place.

On lap 50 Antonelli sets fast lap at 1m30.965s.

Sainz passes Doohan for 14th.

On the final lap the order remains the same, and Verstappen takes the flag ahead of Norris and Piastri.

Antonelli becomes youngest driver to set a fastest lap.