Japanese Grand Prix: Formula One live race updates, blog

That about wraps up this live blog of the Japanese Grand Prix. Thank you all for joining me for this cracking race and the first with our very own Oscar Piastri on the podium. The first of many surely with the way McLaren are going and Piastri's own form. Red Bull again, well deserved their sixth constructor's title in F1 and another excellent victory for Max Verstappen. A weekend to rest next week, before heading to the Middle East for the Qatar GP and the return of Sprint racing. Until then, thank you for tuning in and bye for now.

Thoughts on that one then Roarers?

——– DRIVER’S ——– 400 – Max Verstappen 223 – Sergio Perez 190 – Lewis Hamilton 174 – Fernando Alonso 150 – Carlos Sainz 135 – Charles Leclerc 115 – Lando Norris 115 – George Russell 57 — Oscar Piastri 47 — Lance Stroll 46 — Pierre Gasly 38 — Esteban Ocon 21 — Alexander Albon 9 — Nico Hülkenberg 6 — Valtteri Bottas 4 — Zhou Guanyu 3 — Yuki Tsunoda 3 — Kevin Magnussen 2 — Liam Lawson 0 — Logan Sargeant 0 — Nyck De Vries 0 — Daniel Ricciardo

----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 623 - Red Bull Racing 305 - Mercedes AMG 285 - Ferrari 221 - Aston Martin Racing 172 - McLaren Mercedes 84 -- Alpine 21 -- Williams Mercedes 12 -- Haas Ferrari 10 -- Alfa Romeo Racing 5 --- Scuderia AlphaTauri

RACE REPORT At Honda’s home track of Suzuka, Red Bull Racing wrapped up the 2023 constructor’s championship with another dominant display from Max Verstappen who crushed the field by almost 20-seconds to win the Japanese Grand Prix. The Dutchman had both McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris challenging him off the line and into Turn 1, though Verstappen cleared them coming out of Turn 2 and was largely unseen for the rest of the race. Norris with his electric start, displaced teammate Piastri as behind them there was many a melee heading into the first corner which triggered a Safety Car at the end of the first lap. There was contact between Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton, in which the Mexican driver needed to pit for a new front-wing – while the Mercedes toured the grass. And then a multi-car incident involving both Alfa Romeos, Alexander Albon and Esteban Ocon – as they all jostled for track position funnelling into Turn 1. Perez was investigated and handed a 5-second penalty for passing under the Safety Car, despite peeling off into the pits – as the Red Bull driver’s afternoon continued to unravel. As the race went back to green flag conditions, drivers began touring the pits while the likes of Bottas got rammed by Logan Sargeant who locked up into the hairpin. That ended the Finn’s day. That incident, which landed Sargeant a 5-second time penalty, was replicated between Perez and Kevin Magnussen – as the Red Bull locked up into the hairpin and also sent the Haas into a spin. Perez did cop another time penalty for that, but had retired from the race due to excessive damage. Red Bull bizarrely did send Perez back out, 26-laps off the lead to serve the penalty and then return to the garage – so they wouldn’t have it hanging over them at the next race in Qatar. The Virtual Safety Car was initiated on Lap 14, which saw only Piastri from third elect to pit and make the switch to the hard tyre. At first this was seen as a cheap stop to benefit the Aussie, though after teammate Norris pitted on Lap 18 – the offset was in favour of the Briton. Verstappen nonchalantly pitted for mediums on Lap 17 and then again for the hard tyres on Lap 38, without his lead being affected. Piastri took his second stop on Lap 36 and Norris the lap after, as both McLarens had an extra set of hard tyres to use. There was a brief threat to McLaren from George Russell, who bravely went for a one-stop strategy – which ultimately backfired. Mercedes fell under the threat of Carlos Sainz at the end of the race, who ultimately passed Russell – but Hamilton stayed in fifth after the team inverted the positions. Both Mercedes cars were close on track, with the wounded Hamilton pushing the limits of the track at Spoon Curve and Russell going wide. Hamilton ultimately proving the one-stop wasn’t the way to go. Fernando Alonso beat both Alpines as the trio rounded out the points. The Spaniard having his own challenging race, as the Aston Martin lacked the overall pace of the cars ahead. An attritional race also claimed both Williams cars, as damage to both Sargeant and Albon from separate incidents force them to join Perez, Bottas and Lance Stroll out of the race.

STANDBY FOR RACE REPORT & UPDATED STANDINGS

POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Damon Hill VERSTAPPEN - "Unbelievable weekend of course and to win here was great." "Very proud of everyone working at the track and back at the factory." "The start had a bit too much wheelspin." NORRIS - "Another amazing day for us, couldn't have asked for any more." "My start was good, but Max is Max." "We're not close to Max, but we're not miles away either." "We're getting there, the progress we've made is outstanding." "Our first double podium together with Oscar." PIASTRI - "Thank you very much, it feels very special." "I can't thank the team enough for giving me the opportunity." "Wasn't my best race ever, but it was enough to get the trophy." "Our pace was strong."

RESULTS FROM THE 53-LAP JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 1 M. Verstappen (Fastest Lap) 2 L. Norris 3 O. Piastri 4 C. Leclerc 5 L. Hamilton 6 C. Sainz 7 G. Russell 8 F. Alonso 9 E. Ocon 10 P. Gasly 11 L. Lawson 12 Y. Tsunoda 13 G. Zhou 14 N. Hülkenberg 15 K. Magnussen RET A. Albon RET L. Sargeant RET L. Stroll RET S. Perez RET V. Bottas

RED BULL RACING ARE THE 2023 CONSTRUCTOR'S WORLD CHAMPIONS

MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX! And its a double podium for McLaren with Lando Norris a superb second. But more significantly... OSCAR PIASTRI with his first F1 podium in his first season!

Lap 53/53: FINAL LAP

Lap 52/53: Sainz with DRS edges closer to the Mercedes of Hamilton, as the former champ stays ahead for now.

Lap 51/53: Sainz remarking that 'they're using my trick against me', as he gets his head down to go after Hamilton. The Ferrari is within DRS range of Hamilton.

Lap 50/53: Sainz wastes no time to pass Russell, while Mercedes will be left ruing their strategy decisions. Russell suggested that they invert the positions and Hamilton assist him with DRS on the final lap, but the threat of Sainz loomed too large and this isn't Singapore - where the threat of overtaking is not as great as Suzuka. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Lap 49/53: Hamilton and Russell inverts positions, as the seven-time world champion is up to fifth. There is a 5.5 second gap ahead to Leclerc. Which looks like too much now to catch. While Russell is sitting duck to Sainz, who looks much quicker.

Lap 48/53: Sainz behind the two Mercedes looks threatening, as the Silver Arrows need to make the call to get Hamilton ahead of Russell. both Mercedes and Ferrari are fighting for second in the constructor's championship as well it is important to note.

Lap 47/53: Race Control have noted Leclerc going off the track at Turn 2 and gaining an advantage from earlier, when he passed Russell for fourth. But then say there is no further investigation. Hamilton tailing his teammate Russell meanwhile, as the São Paulo GP winner is really suffering on his one-stop strategy.

Lap 46/53: Verstappen meanwhile is 17.1-seconds clear in the lead and also holding the point for fastest lap too. On the current math, he could wrap up his third title if he finishes in the top three during the Qatar Sprint next time out.

Lap 45/53: Leclerc makes the move stick - just - coming out of Turn 2 and into fourth is the Ferrari.