At the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, world champion Max Verstappen returned to winning ways by leading teammate Sergio Perez across the finish line for a Red Bull 1-2 at Suzuka.
This was his third consecutive pole-to-flag victory. He ended his nine-race winning streak last time out in Melbourne, Australia, his first retirement since 2022. This week, he gave an exceptional performance and won three of the four races this season without experiencing any mechanical problems.
Verstappen now leads Perez by 13 points in the driver standings. Verstappen is the second driver, along with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, to win three straight Japanese Grands Prix.
The rise after the fall
In a statement, Verstappen declared: “You know it was a little hiccup, of course, the last race, but very happy that we are here back on top.”
In the race, he was able to finish 12.535 seconds clear of his teammate and also had the fastest lap.
Perez, who made his way past Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the driver standings, also expressed: “I think we have good momentum…I think if we are strong in places like this with a lot of high-speed corners … we can be strong anywhere else.”
In the constructor standings, Red Bull is in the lead with 141 points, followed by Ferrari with 120, and McLaren with 69.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: CNA