Verstappen eliminated Japan and left the title in sight for sentencing

Max Verstappen broke. He has no rival, again this year. He returned to normality on the legendary circuit of Suzuki behind the wheel of his Red Bull RB19 to crush all his rivals with ease. The Japanese GP was the perfect example of what this season has been for the Dutchman, a complete ride. Max won against the McLaren double on the podium, with Norris 2nd, 20” behind the Dutchman and Piastri in third position, debuting on the F1 podium. Verstappen took the victory, the point of the fastest lap and this, together with the nightmare experienced by Pérez, who had neglected, made him shout the expected “Checkmate” to the Mexican. The two-time world champion already has a date for his first choice to be crowned again, and in the meantime, with his win he handed the Constructors’ World Championship to Red Bull with 6 events to go. They are on another planet.

F1 2023 Japanese GP Results

Formula 1 World Cup classification

At the next Qatar GP (October 8) the other party can take place: the Dutchman needs to add 3 more points than Pérez in Losail to wrap up the title. That means a win at Losail would be enough for him to lift his third title in the remaining 5 races, a sign of his immense superiority, as he showed this Sunday. Max ate ramen, read comics or played Nintendo while driving at Suzuka. He won with a lead of 19 seconds without suffering the least bit.

Max just had to get rid of Piastri in the beginning to avoid any problems. The focus on the Australian gave wings to Lando Norris, who tried to take the first place from him out of Turn 1, but Max was strong and did not give up. From there, there were 53 laps of honor for Verstappen.

At the back, McLaren did not complicate their lives to take advantage of the second best car on the grid at Suzuka and celebrate a magnificent double on the podium. Piastri stopped first and came out from behind Norris, who had fresher tires after his first pit stop. There, the team is quick and clear to avoid risks. The McLaren race was not a battle between them but against Mercedes and the Australian let his teammate pass to squeeze his rhythm. Behind him, Russell and Hamilton were furious, clashing on several occasions as George tried to pass Lewis. “Who are we fighting against? Against us or against others?” Russell asked in surprise in front of a Hamilton who was already suffering from severe degradation and was too aggressive. Finally, strategy won’t make your day either. George took a risk by going to one stop and it paid off in the end. Leclerc, who started 4th, did not give options to Hamilton who in the last laps had to fight to stop Carlos Sainz.

Mercedes had to ask Russell to let the 7-time champion pass in order not to lose the fight to Carlos. George didn’t really like the idea, but he relented. He then demanded that Lewis give him his DRS to defend himself against Carlos with the younger tire. But the pulse of the Madrid native did not tremble and he took the sixth position in a straight line, without consideration. Time to attack Hamilton. He pressed it, but it took him a few turns to try better. Sainz could have been 4th in this GP, but he compromised by starting behind Charles, who they should have been ahead of. But above all, he was harmed by a poor strategic decision by Ferrari.

Sainz lost the battle with Hamilton because of strategy

In that fight for 4th place against Mercedes, Charles defended himself well in the pits against any attack, stopping in front of Carlos. What was not understood was that in the second stint the Italian kept Carlos on the track for more laps than expected after Hamilton entered the pits to look for the ‘undercut’ on the Spaniard. Those laps caused the Madrid native to lose several seconds, having to attack with new rubber in the final laps. Too dangerous. Perhaps Ferrari was looking for a surprise and to take advantage of a final ‘Safety Car’ with Carlos not starting. Sainz lost two places with that strategy. He got it back with George, but there was nothing he could do to do that with Hamilton.