In the hottest conditions of the weekend at Suzuka, Verstappen was never threatened even through two standing starts around the crash between Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon at Turn 3 on the initial opening lap.
Behind, Ferrari continued its early 2024 podium streak via Carlos Sainz and made a bold strategy choice for Charles Leclerc work, after the Scuderia had endured a disappointing qualifying session.
But there were plenty of additional factors across the grid that fed into how we rank the teams following their second visit to Japan in six months.
1. Red Bull
Back on ground where the RB20 is designed to dominate – with its tyre kindness and aerodynamically efficient design – Red Bull easily resumed its position at the head of the pack. It headed the grid as it could keep the softs alive for much longer over a qualifying lap, then through both starts its drivers kept things clean.
Verstappen reversed an FP3 long-run deficit to Perez in the race, which he effectively led from start to finish, other than the early parts of the second and third stints when the Ferraris on different strategies cycled to the lead.
This was also another weekend where there was no off-track drama for the reigning champion squad, although some in the paddock feel there are still further storms to come on that front.
2. Ferrari
Had it not recovered so well in the race, this might’ve ended up as a lower ranking. Suzuka was always going to be the first test of the team’s position as Red Bull’s closest challenger so far in 2024, as the high-speed corners here bring McLaren further into play. This contributed to its qualifying defeat, but Ferrari has also concentrated on designing the SF-24 to be better in such territory anyway.
Leclerc in particular was lost on tyre preparation in qualifying, which meant he started down the order in eighth. But Ferrari was strategically sound to switch him from its ‘Plan A’ to ‘Plan C’ – a one-stopper that at one stage looked like it might get him ahead of Sainz too.
But the Spaniard extended his purple patch with a series of decisive passes late on to make use of his late tyre offset advantage to nail Lando Norris and Leclerc too. Ferrari finished 44s behind Red Bull here six months ago, just 20s this time.
3. McLaren
A solid weekend for the team back on happier ground for the MCL38 given Suzuka’s high-speed sequences.
Norris did well to outqualify Sainz and stay ahead of his former team-mate in the early…
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