Verstappen Dominates at Suzuka with Red Bull One-Two Finish

Max Verstappen returned to winning ways in dominant fashion at Suzuka, leading a Red Bull one-two with Sergio Perez finishing second. After retiring in Australia, Verstappen showed his class by leading into the first corner twice and controlling the pace throughout the race.

Verstappen’s victory at Suzuka opened up a 13-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship, showcasing his imperious form in the opening four rounds of the 2024 season. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff conceded that “no one is going to catch Max this year,” praising his driving and the performance of the Red Bull car.

However, Wolff’s prediction of Red Bull dominance was dismissed by Christian Horner, who believes it is too early to write off the year with 20 races still remaining. Horner and Wolff have a history of rivalry, and Horner’s Red Bull team’s strong performance at Suzuka proved that they are still in the fight for the championship.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz secured the final podium spot for Ferrari, with a strong strategy helping him leapfrog Lando Norris, who was misjudged by McLaren with an early pit stop. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while Fernando Alonso and George Russell impressed with sixth and seventh-place finishes respectively.

Lewis Hamilton, despite feeling positive about his Mercedes after qualifying, struggled for pace during the race and had to settle for ninth place. Yuki Tsunoda delighted the home crowd by becoming the first Japanese driver in 12 years to score points at Suzuka, finishing in tenth place for RB.

Verstappen’s dominant win at Suzuka sets the stage for an exciting battle for the drivers’ championship in the remaining races of the season.