Verstappen dominates for Japanese GP victory as Red Bull secure back-to-back constructors’ titles.
Max Verstappen’s 13th victory of the 2023 season at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday saw his Oracle Red Bull Racing team secure the quickest ever constructors’ title in Formula One history as the Dutchman hailed “a rocket ship of a car". Verstappen and Red Bull returned to winning ways in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix after surviving a dramatic first lap and pulling comfortably clear of McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The two-time drivers’ world champion started on pole position at Suzuka, survived a dramatic first lap with the two McLarens attempting to pass and pulled away – despite Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car periods – to help make history for the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.
After he crossed the finish line, CEO and Team Principal Christian Horner said over the radio, “You were 19.4s ahead of the rest of the field and that wins our sixth constructors’ championship."
“What an unbelievable championship we are having," said Verstappen. “You can all be very proud back at the factory and here at the track. You’ve given me a rocket ship of a car."
Verstappen continued post race, “What an incredible weekend! It’s been a massive Team effort, there are a lot of people involved in getting us to where we are today. You only really see very few people here at track, there are lots of people working tirelessly at the factory to make sure we are always performing at our highest. What we are showing this year is pure dominance, we can all be extremely proud. It was an amazing feeling to see the Team celebrating in the garage on the track TVs during my in-lap. We’re definitely enjoying it but we won’t take anything for granted."
Despite the struggles of teammate Sergio Perez who ultimately had to retire the car twice during the race, the gap to winning the constructors title was so large, that just the mere win from Verstappen was enough to seal the title.
“Once again it was a phenomenal performance from the Team," said Team Principle Christian Horner. “I have been saying it all year, but really, this kind of season would be impossible without the hard work that goes on behind the scenes from all the different departments both back at Milton Keynes and here at track. From the crazy hours that they work through to the relentless pursuit for better, it is a true Team effort and one to be immensely proud of. So that is 6 for us and an amazing moment for the Team. We will take tonight to celebrate and regroup tomorrow as we look towards Qatar and a possible driver Championship. Only a Red Bull driver can win it now so there will be more celebrations to come in what can only be described as a monumental season in the team’s history! Ichiban Oracle Red Bull Racing."In spite of multiple yellow flags and the need for a two stop pit strategy, Vertappen lead comfortably the entire race after the opening lap race for position with the McLarens. However, the race was not drama free as teammates battled each other all over the track as the drivers battled for as many points as they could get.
The battle between the McLaren drivers was ultimately settled in Norris’ favor, the Briton getting ahead at the start, dropping behind when Piastri pitted under a Virtual Safety Car but then displaying enough pace for the team to swap positions. After their brief race for position, they both settled into place and raced together.
The same could not be said about the Mercedes team where both drivers ended up on different strategies throughout the race and almost crashed each other out of the race twice.
Charles Leclerc led Ferrari’s charge in fourth position, completing a bold, late move on Mercedes rival George Russell – the only front-runner to attempt a one-stop rather than two-stop strategy – around the outside of Turns 1 and 2.
Russell fell into the clutches of team mate Lewis Hamilton in the closing laps and was instructed to let him by, which he agreed to do, after the Mercedes drivers had gone wheel-to-wheel and almost collided earlier in the race.
Carlos Sainz also pounced on Russell’s aging tires to take sixth behind Hamilton, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly – despite a first-lap incident for the former – scoring the final points of the day.
With their cars starting ninth and 11th, AlphaTauri had been points contenders in the opening exchanges, but faded as the various strategies played out – F1 newcomer Liam Lawson beating home favorite Yuki Tsunoda to the flag in 11th and 12th respectively.
Haas pair Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were the final finishers in P14 and P15 respectively, a theme of their 2023 season amid tyre degradation struggles, with a gaggle of cars behind retiring at different stages.
Williams suffered a double DNF as Sargeant returned his car to the garage after clashing with Bottas, having been penalised pre-race and given a pit lane start for major car changes following his qualifying crash, while Albon retired with damage after his own Lap 1 incident involving the Alfa Romeo.
Another bottleneck moment at the start saw Red Bull’s Sergio Perez bang wheels with Hamilton, before a separate incident with Magnussen forced him to pit for a second new front wing, leading to his retirement (albeit reappearing late on to serve time penalties). Lance Stroll was the other driver to retire with a rear wing issue on his Aston Martin.