Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing effortlessly clinched the top spot at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. Held at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, Verstappen completed the race with a nearly 20-second lead over the runner-up.
McLaren dominated the remaining spots on the podium: Lando Norris achieved a commendable second place, while newcomer Oscar Piastri took home the third-place trophy.
Table of Contents
BMW M2 Overview
The accumulation of points from this race enabled Red Bull Racing to secure its sixth Constructors’ title for the 2023 Formula 1 season.
From the onset, Verstappen, who started from the pole position, was flanked by Piastri on the front grid. Following them were Norris and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. Verstappen seized a commanding lead early on, aided by Norris who swiftly overtook his teammate Piastri, securing the second position within the first lap itself.
2023 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights
Further down the pack, a collision occurred between Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo and Alex Albon from Williams. Both racers managed to continue despite the collision, although a safety car was deployed to clear the track of debris. Racing resumed on lap four, with the leading order remaining unaltered.
Separately, an incident involving Williams’ Logan Sargeant and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas resulted in Bottas retiring early and Sargeant incurring a penalty. In another development, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez locked his brakes, causing a collision with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, which led to Magnussen spinning out. The damage to Perez’s car was so extensive that he was forced to withdraw from the race.
Meanwhile, Verstappen consistently extended his lead, recording the fastest lap soon after his pit stop. The gap only widened in the concluding laps, culminating in Verstappen claiming his 47th career victory and 13th win of the current season. With six more races to go, he is on track to surpass his own record of 15 wins in a single season.
As it stands, Verstappen is poised to clinch his third Drivers’ Championship, potentially as early as the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix. Currently, he leads the 2023 Drivers’ Championship with 400 points, followed by Perez with 223 points and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-Benz AMG with 190 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull has already clinched the title with a total of 623 points, with Mercedes trailing at 305 points and Ferrari at 285 points. The Formula 1 season will proceed with the Qatar Grand Prix in two weeks.
2023 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Full Results
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
- Lando Norris, McLaren +19.387 seconds
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren +36.494 seconds
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +43.998 seconds
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz AMG +49.376 seconds
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari +50.221 seconds
- George Russell, Mercedes-Benz AMG +57.659 seconds
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +74.725 seconds
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine +79.678 seconds
- Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri +83.155 seconds
- Liam Lawson, AlphaTauri +1 lap
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri +1 lap
- Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo +1 lap
- Nico Hulkenberg, Haas +1 lap
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas +1 lap
NC) Alexander Albon, Williams – DNF
NC) Logan Sargeant, Williams – DNF
NC) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – DNF
NC) Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing – DNF
NC) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo – DNF
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Japanese Grand Prix 2023
Who won the 2023 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won the 2023 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of the next driver.
Which team secured the Constructors’ Championship following the Japanese Grand Prix?
Red Bull Racing secured its sixth Constructors’ Championship for the 2023 Formula 1 season following Max Verstappen’s win at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Who else occupied the podium positions?
Lando Norris from McLaren secured second place, and rookie Oscar Piastri, also from McLaren, took third place at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Were there any incidents during the race?
Yes, there were multiple incidents. Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo collided with Alex Albon from Williams. Logan Sargeant of Williams collided with Valtteri Bottas from Alfa Romeo, leading to Bottas’ retirement. Additionally, Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing collided with Kevin Magnussen of Haas, which led to Perez retiring from the race.
What significant milestones did Max Verstappen achieve with this win?
Max Verstappen achieved his 47th career win and 13th win of the 2023 season. With six more races to go, he is in a favorable position to break his own single-season win record.
What is the next race in the 2023 Formula 1 season?
The next race in the 2023 Formula 1 season is the Qatar Grand Prix, which will take place in two weeks.
Who are the current leaders in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship?
Max Verstappen leads the 2023 Drivers’ Championship with 400 points. He is followed by Sergio Perez with 223 points and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-Benz AMG with 190 points.
How do the teams stand in the Constructors’ Championship after the Japanese Grand Prix?
After the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing leads the Constructors’ Championship with 623 points. Mercedes-Benz AMG is in second place with 305 points, and Ferrari is in third place with 285 points.
More about Japanese Grand Prix 2023
- Official Formula 1 Website
- Max Verstappen’s Career Statistics
- 2023 Formula 1 Season Overview
- Red Bull Racing Team Profile
- McLaren F1 Team Official Website
- Constructors’ Championship History
- Japanese Grand Prix Circuit Information
- FIA Official Press Releases
- 2023 Drivers’ Championship Standings
- Mercedes-Benz AMG F1 Team Website
- Ferrari F1 Team Website
- 2023 Formula 1 Race Calendar
- Safety Protocols in Formula 1
- Qatar Grand Prix Information
- Incident Reports and Penalties in F1
7 comments
McLaren is really stepping up. Norris and Piastri on the podium is huge for them, don’t ya think?
Those incidents tho! Zhou and Albon, Sargeant and Bottas… makes the race more intense and unpredictable. safety car moments always get my heart racing.
The Suzuka Circuit is legendary for a reason, shows the mettle of the drivers. Verstappen made it look easy, but we know it’s anything but.
Wow, what a race! Verstappen is just dominating this season, huh? Seems like the constructor’s title was a forgone conclusion for Red Bull.
im impressed with how Verstappen manages to keep up the pace. guy’s a machine! But what happened to Mercedes this year? Falling behind much?
Perez and Magnussen collision was a tough one. Sometimes braking goes wrong and there’s nothing much you can do. part of the game I guess.
Lewis needs to step it up if he wants a shot at the title again. But with Verstappen at 400 pts, seems like a long shot this year.