As expected after the Australian GP hiccup, the three-time world champion took his third straight win in a row at Suzuka, leading from pole to finish over 11 seconds ahead of Sergio Perez.
Carlos Sainz again led the Ferrari charge in third ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc. After a more promising qualifying outing, Mercedes was not a factor in the race, with George Russell finishing a distant seventh, two places ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
Our writers give their verdict on the fourth round of the 2024 season.
Little action up front but Suzuka delivered a good strategy test elsewhere: 4/10 – Alex Kalinauckas
The crash between Ricciardo and Albon raised hopes in the Suzuka media centre that Perez might be able to challenge Verstappen at the second start, but when he didn’t and quickly fell out of DRS the race was over as a contest.
Thankfully, there was plenty of strategy intrigue behind – particularly at Ferrari, which outfoxed McLaren with Sainz on an offset two-stopper and Leclerc on a brilliant one-stopper.
That and the tyre approach differences – the power of which evident by how the RBs fell back at the first start on mediums, swamped by rivals on softs – at other squads made for several good overtakes, with Tsunoda’s pair of Esses moves the pick of the bunch.
Strategy and battles prevented total snoozefest: 5/10 – Filip Cleeren
With zero jeopardy over the identity of the winner, or indeed second place, it’s hard to rate this race any higher. But in another year dominated by Max Verstappen and Red Bull, it’s good to adjust your expectations and find enjoyment elsewhere.
The Japanese Grand Prix lacked Australia’s excitement of a surprise winner and the feel-good story of Carlos Sainz’s triumphant injury return, but tried to make up for it in other areas by offering much more action.
All three Pirelli tyre compounds were viable options for the race and the strategic options that provided at least gave us some wheel-to-wheel battles from third place all the way down the the tail end of the midfield, meaning the fight for the final step on the podium remained quite open between Sainz, Norris and one-stopping Leclerc.
Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda particularly excelled with some daring overtakes, saving this race from being a total snoozefest. Watching drivers tackle a proper racing circuit like Suzuka will never get old, and it’s almost tempted me to turn a 5/10 into a six.
Tsunoda a feel-good story again: 3/10 – Oleg…
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