Author: Barkha Roy
Max Verstappen’s triumph at the Japanese Grand Prix not only marked a significant step towards his third consecutive drivers’ title, but also sealed the Formula 1 constructors’ championship for Red Bull. Verstappen, who currently leads the championship by a substantial margin, crossed the finish line ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, strengthening his position at the top of the standings with a lead of 177 points over his teammate Sergio Perez.
Verstappen’s victory also secured Red Bull a consecutive constructors’ title, although Pérez was forced to retire from the race. After the win, Verstappen expressed his appreciation for the team, praising them with the words:“You’ve built a car that’s a rocket“.
In contrast, Mercedes, Red Bull’s biggest rivals in the constructors’ championship, struggled during the race, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth and George Russell seventh. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured fourth place, with his teammate Carlos Sainz finishing sixth. Verstappen’s win came after a somewhat disappointing fifth place at the previous Singapore Grand Prix.
Mercedes ⚔️ Mercedes
😮#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/ZfZRj5niJ1
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 25, 2023
Verstappen expressed his joy in a post-race interview, describing the weekend as “unbelievable” and stressing the importance of winning the constructors’ title, emphasizing:“The car was working very well on all compounds, but the most important thing was to win the constructors’ title.” Verstappen’s dominance throughout the 2023 season was evident, showing Red Bull’s exceptional overall performance.
Team boss Christian Horner praised Verstappen’s “incredible” performance. The Japanese Grand Prix had a chaotic start, marked by several incidents on the first lap, which led to safety car and virtual safety car periods.
Sergio Perez faced a challenging race, receiving a five-second penalty for a safety car infringement and eventually retiring due to problems with his car. Despite Perez’s early departure, Red Bull won the constructors’ title, reflecting an exceptional year for the team.
A collision with Magnussen, a retirement, a return, a penalty served, and another retirement
Sergio Perez had a stop-start-stop race at Suzuka #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/xsxT7t7wlf
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 25, 2023
Verstappen’s victory in Japan positions him well to secure his third consecutive drivers’ championship at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix (October 8). Mercedes’ difficulties in keeping pace with Red Bull underline Red Bull’s dominance under the latest Formula 1 regulations, solidifying Verstappen and the team’s prowess in the sport.