Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the Japanese Grand Prix and witness Max Verstappen’s dominant Formula 1 title defense from pole position.
Final standings
Verstappen showed pure dominance in the race, storming ahead in the opening lap and securing a victory that was never in doubt. McLaren had an impressive afternoon, finishing second and third on the day.
MAX VERSTAPPEN CLAIMS VICTORY IN THE JAPANESE GP
Verstappen crosses the finish line, cementing his dominance in Japan. Red Bull secures their sixth constructors championship with another outstanding performance.
FINAL LAP – Verstappen on the verge of victory
Verstappen starts the final lap with a comfortable lead of nearly 20 seconds over Norris in second place.
LAP 50 – Sainz overtakes Russell
Sainz makes a bold move down into turn one, overtaking Russell for seventh place. Despite Russell’s DRS advantage, he couldn’t keep the Ferrari at bay.
LAP 49 – Mercedes swaps drivers
Tension rises as Russell initially refuses team orders to swap positions but eventually complies, allowing Hamilton to move up to fifth. Sainz is now close behind Russell, who is clearly unhappy.
LAP 47 – Russell and Hamilton battle continues
The battle between Russell and Hamilton intensifies as they prepare for another showdown. The Mercedes pit wall grants them permission to fight, but both drivers are warned to give each other space.
LAP 45 – Leclerc overtakes Russell
Leclerc skillfully overtakes Russell around the outside of turn one, showcasing exciting racing.
LAP 44 – Ferrari and Hamilton chase Russell
Ferrari and Hamilton are hot on Russell’s tail, hoping to make their way past him.
LAP 42 – Piastri overtakes Russell
Piastri waits for the perfect moment and successfully overtakes Russell going into turn one. The McLaren driver had DRS and it was only a matter of time before he made the move.
LAP 42 – Perez returns to the track
After what feels like an eternity, Perez finally returns to the track. He will serve his five-second penalty but won’t have much impact on the race.
LAP 41 – Russell defends against Piastri
Russell, struggling with tire degradation, defends his position against Piastri in fourth. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before Piastri overtakes him.
LAP 39 – 15 laps remaining
With 15 laps to go, there are still multiple scenarios that could unfold. Keep an eye on Hamilton in sixth place, setting a new fastest lap.
LAP 38 – Norris overtakes Russell
Norris effortlessly overtakes Russell, utilizing his fresh tires and straightline speed.
LAP 37 – Verstappen pits but maintains lead
Verstappen’s pit stop is quick and efficient, with the Red Bull driver maintaining his lead after changing to hard tires.
LAP 36 – Piastri pits
Piastri makes a pit stop, while Ferrari keeps Sainz out on track. Ferrari doesn’t seem worried about the undercut, but only time will tell if it was the right move. Norris is also preparing to pit.
LAP 36 – Ferrari and Mercedes pit
Leclerc and Hamilton both make pit stops for new tires. Ferrari has the quicker stop, hoping to see Leclerc pull ahead of Hamilton.
LAP 34 – No investigation for Mercedes incident
Mercedes breathes a sigh of relief as no further investigation is conducted regarding the earlier incident involving Hamilton and Russell.
LAP 33 – Hamilton closes in on Ferrari
Hamilton, with less tire degradation than his Ferrari rivals, narrows the gap to just over three seconds behind Sainz. His lap times improve, and he could potentially catch both Ferraris.
LAP 32 – Perez returns to the track
In a surprising turn of events, Perez heads back out on the track despite already retiring. He has a five-second penalty to serve, and the FIA allows him to do so before the end of the race.
LAP 28 – Alonso overtakes Guanyu
Alonso showcases his experience and overtakes Guanyu at a hairpin turn, moving up to 11th place.
LAP 27 – Alex Albon retires
Williams pulls Albon in, resulting in both of their drivers retiring from the race. A disappointing day for Williams at Suzuka, despite showing promising speed at times.
LAP 26 – Norris urges McLaren to swap cars
Norris, with better pace, communicates with McLaren to switch cars as he strives to catch up with Verstappen, who is over 12 seconds ahead. Eventually, Norris and Piastri do swap positions.
LAP 25 – Current top 10
After completing 25 laps out of 53, Verstappen leads comfortably, followed by Piastri in second as Russell makes his first pit stop.
LAP 24 – Mercedes drivers battle it out
The battle between Hamilton and Russell becomes intense, leaving Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ Team Principal, on the edge of his seat. The stewards investigate an incident at Spoon Curve, so the outcome is uncertain.
LAP 22 – Lance Stroll retires
Stroll is instructed to retire due to a serious issue detected by the pit wall.
LAP 22 – Hamilton overtakes Alonso
Hamilton executes a close but clean overtake on Alonso’s Aston Martin, then swiftly overtakes Ocon on the same lap. He moves up to seventh place.
LAP 18 – Russell questions Mercedes’ tactics
Russell raises concerns about Mercedes’ decision to let the drivers race each other, as it may affect their overall race pace. The pit wall has yet to respond. Norris pits.
LAP 17 – Verstappen and Hamilton pit
Verstappen pits, allowing Norris to take the lead. Hamilton follows suit after another battle with Russell on his in lap. Both teams perform solid pit stops, fitting fresh tires.
LAP 16 – Perez retires
Perez retires from the race, ending his disappointing Japanese GP due to car damage sustained in a collision.
LAP 15 – Racing resumes under green flag
The safety car period is brief, and racing resumes. Piastri benefits from pitting under the Virtual Safety Car and gains an advantage over other drivers during their pit stops.
LAP 14 – Virtual safety car deployed
Piastri’s pit stop timing aligns perfectly with the Virtual Safety Car deployment, caused by debris on the track.
LAP 13 – Perez and others in the pits
Perez serves his five-second penalty in the pits and has a new front wing fitted. Alonso and Piastri also make pit stops.
LAP 12 – Perez and Magnussen collide
Perez’s misfortunes continue as he collides with Magnussen while attempting an overtaking maneuver. This results in further front wing damage and impending penalties.
LAP 10 – Five-second penalty for Perez
Perez receives a five-second penalty for a safety car infringement. Although he handed positions back, the FIA penalizes him for the incident.
LAP 9 – Bottas retires
Bottas retires from the race, ending his participation in the Japanese GP.
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