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It was an impeccable weekend for the Red Bull team which achieved its 3rd double podium finish. It was especially notable for Max Verstappen, who confirmed this with a perfect grand slam. With Sergio Perez in second place, Red Bull asserts its supremacy.
A Crash at the Start
On the first lap, Daniel Ricciardo’s RB Visa Cash App made contact with Alexander Albon’s Williams at turn three, resulting in a two-car accident. It was a significant setback for Albon, who found himself pinned on his right with no room to maneuver – a stroke of misfortune for the driver. Despite his return to the Red Bull team, Ricciardo has yet to score any points in the new F1 season. This recurring situation could signal a decline for the Australian, with the emergence of young talent Liam Lawson.
The stewards waved the red flag, halting the race for over 25 minutes to repair the track and ensure optimal safety conditions.
Guanyu Zhou Retires, Ferrari Pushes Forward
From lap 15 onwards, Zhou encountered technical issues with his Stake single-seater, with his gearbox progressively failing, leading to a steady loss of pace for the Chinese driver.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz adopted an aggressive strategy befitting the Italian team, opting for medium and long-lasting tires. Leclerc led for 25 laps but was forced to pit mid-race to switch to hard tires, allowing Sergio Perez to claim second place. Meanwhile, Sainz, on fresh tires since lap 15, struggled to maintain his position.
Scuderia Ferrari cleverly employed two different strategies towards the end of the race, with Leclerc reclaiming the lead after Oscar Piastri’s pit stop, while Sainz briefly led before the Red Bulls regained control. With 15 laps to go, reigning world champion Verstappen was in the lead, closely pursued by Perez and Leclerc. Sainz battled Lando Norris in his McLaren but eventually secured fourth place thanks to a daring maneuver, securing a podium finish for Ferrari.
Yuki Scores Points at Home
At his home circuit, Yuki Tsunoda delivered a commendable performance. Following his first points in Australia, the young driver crossed the finish line in 10th place, much to the delight of the Japanese spectators who were immensely proud of their driver. This performance earned him the last available point for his team.
Next up, we head to the Shanghai track for the Chinese Grand Prix, making a return since 2019 following the pandemic.
Top 10 Finishers at Suzuka: Max Verstappen (77pts), Sergio Perez (64pts), Carlos Sainz (55pts), Charles Leclerc (59pts), Lando Norris (37pts), Fernando Alonso (24pts), George Russell (24pts), Oscar Piastri (32pts), Lewis Hamilton (10pts) and Yuki Tsunoda (7pts).
