Max Verstappen clinched his inaugural win of the season following yet another dramatic showdown with Lando Norris at the Japanese Grand Prix. The pair’s history of on-track duels from the previous season, including collisions in Austria and tussles in Austin and Mexico City, reignited at Suzuka as Verstappen unexpectedly dominated the qualifying session, securing pole position to renew their rivalry.
The high-stakes encounter escalated at the pit stop, with both drivers jostling on the exit. Norris, driving over the grass on Verstappen’s inside, hurled accusations amid the intense tussle. Despite Norris' claims of being pushed off, the stewards disagreed and took no action, allowing Verstappen to maintain his lead and narrow the gap to the championship leader by a single point.
The Suzuka race saw minimal action, with Lewis Hamilton making the sole advancement by overtaking Isack Hadjar to claim seventh place from eighth on the starting grid. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Piastri finished third, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, as Mercedes’ George Russell and Kimi Antonelli struggled to make headway.
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The race commenced on dry tyres following the morning rain, with only Hamilton, in eighth position, opting for mediums amongst the top 16 racers. Verstappen defended his lead against Norris, stretching a two-second advantage by the seventh lap. Hamilton managed to surge past Hadjar, securing seventh place as the frontrunners began their pit stops, with Russell among the first to enter on lap 21.
A gripping moment unfolded as Verstappen and Norris entered the pit lane a lap later, with McLaren’s stop being a second quicker than Red Bull’s. As Norris was released behind Verstappen, a contentious incident occurred, with the McLaren driver running over the grass on the inside, sparking a heated exchange of accusations between the two racers.
Despite Norris' attempts to apply pressure, Verstappen remained unperturbed, eventually clinching his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix victory. Norris found himself defending against Piastri, who expressed confidence in challenging for the lead, while Hamilton grappled with performance issues and sought speed insights from his Ferrari race engineer, Adami.
The race concluded with Verstappen emerging triumphant amidst the drama, as the specter of grass fires, which had disrupted various sessions over the weekend, was dispelled by the overnight weather.