Across Japan, the pretty pale pink petals of the Sakura tree have become nature’s way of signalling that spring has officially come.
As the season that follows the cold and dark days of winter, spring is celebrated for how it promises new beginnings and opportunities.
So as Formula 1 arrived at the Suzuka International Racing Course in the month of April for the first time ever, the cherry blossoms could have been taken as a good omen. With Red Bull suffering a rear defeat in the previous round in Australia following Max Verstappen’s early brake failure and Sergio Perez’s lack of race pace, would they prove vulnerable again at one of the truly great and challenging circuits on the calendar?
On Saturday, Red Bull’s first front row lock-out in over a year appeared to have answered that question with a resounding ‘no’.
Verstappen maintained his monopoly on the top spot of the grid but Perez was less than a tenth behind him. Lando Norris put McLaren closest to the Red Bulls for the second straight season in Suzuka in third place, while Melbourne winner Carlos Sainz Jnr was fourth with Fernando Alonso set to start his 18th grand prix around Suzuka in fifth position.
The earlier slot for the race had brought cooler temperatures across the opening two days as track temperatures never breached 30C on Friday or Saturday. Early forecast midweek had left the possibility of rain open, but as the drivers sat on the grid, the track was over 40C. A race that was already tough on tyres would see drivers facing an even greater challenge.
Ten of the first 11 cars on the grid left the dummy grid sporting fresh medium tyres – Alonso the only rebel having fitted softs. But seven of the lowest nine drivers had joined him and were eager to make the most of what should hopefully be superior traction to the cars ahead of them at the start.
Verstappen had not yet been beaten to turn one in 2024 and despite Perez’s best efforts, he successfully converted pole into the lead for a fourth time when the lights went out. Sainz challenged Norris for third but backed out through the first run and as they ran up to turn three, the top nine drivers had all retained their positions off the line.
Back in the pack, however, the two RBs of Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo were swamped by the soft started behind them. Ricciardo looked to his inside mirror at Lance Stroll threateningly close…
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