Verstappen was excellent in his Red Bull this weekend, putting the car on pole before retaining the lead and going on for an emotional win. The Japanese Grand Prix could be called uneventful, but there were some moments that we can note. Here are the highlights of the race at Suzuka.
- Pit Stop Incident with Norris and Verstappen
- Verstappen was leading the race, with Norris behind, when Red Bull made the decision to box Max. Norris was right on the four-time world champion’s heels, and, with the help of a quicker pit stop at McLaren, found himself side by side with Verstappen as they exited the pit lane. Consequently Norrris had to drive into the grass, and voiced his opinion on the radio, as did Max. However, it was ultimately found that no further investigation would be had, and after the race Norris admitted it was simply a racing incident.
- Teammate Battles at McLaren
- Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were both second and third, respectively, for the majority of the race. However, in the closing stages of the Grand Prix, it appeared the Piastri had more pace than Norris, and was hoping for a swap to try and catch Verstappen in front. The Aussie was lapping quicker than both his teammate and the Red Bull, and was starting to close in on Norris. He was within DRS range by the last 15 laps, and at one point got close enough to give Lando a scare. Regardless, McLaren did not ever give the call to swap positions, and by the end of the race the two ended exactly as they started.
- Yuki Tsunoda on his Debut for Red Bull
- Unfortunately, the race may have not been what Tsunoda had in mind for his home Grand Prix, after he finished P12 and failed to score points. After appearing strong in the Practice Sessions, Yuki was only able to qualify P15, before being bumped up to P12 after Sainz’s three-place grid penalty. From there he was unable to make any overtakes to get up into a points position. However, he is not short of fans who wish he success, as the Japanese driver was the Driver of the Day.
- Rookies Bearman and Hadjar Score Points
- It was a very satisfying race for both rookies Ollie Bearman and Isack Hadjar. While both their more experienced teammates failed to score points, the two drove good races after an impressive qualifying to stay in the points positions. Hadjar and Bearman are proving themselves as talented young drivers, and after finishing in 8th and 10th respectively, helped their teams earn more points in the Constructors’ Championship.
