The exhilarating Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka witnessed a truly defining moment in the 2023 Formula 1 season, as Red Bull Racing emphatically secured the Constructors’ Championship. This monumental achievement was spearheaded by Max Verstappen, who delivered one of his most dominant performances yet, reaffirming his and the team’s relentless superiority in a season already brimming with commanding victories. His triumph at the legendary Suzuka circuit re-established Red Bull as the undisputed force, especially after a challenging weekend in Singapore that saw their winning streak broken.
However, while Verstappen soared, his teammate, Sergio Perez, experienced a starkly contrasting and deeply frustrating weekend. The complexities and dramatic turns of the Suzuka race offered a comprehensive test for every driver on the grid, revealing individual strengths, strategic prowess, and moments of significant challenge. Herein lies a detailed analysis of each competitor’s performance, encapsulated in our comprehensive RaceFans driver ratings for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen – 8/10
Qualified: Pole (+4 places ahead of team mate, -0.773s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: Two-stop (M-M-H)
Finished: Winner
- Showcased peerless performance in all three practice sessions, consistently topping the charts.
- Commanded qualifying, storming to pole position with a remarkable margin of over half a second.
- Demonstrated formidable control at the start, adeptly holding off both McLarens to maintain the lead, then gradually extending his advantage over Lando Norris.
- Executed a perfectly timed first pit stop for a second set of medium tires, rejoining the track and swiftly passing Russell to reclaim his rightful lead.
- Switched to hard tyres for his final stop, which proved to be an optimal strategic choice, allowing him to retain his dominant lead and even set the fastest lap of the race.
- Continued to effortlessly pull away from Norris, culminating in a comfortable and unchallenged victory.
Max Verstappen’s twelfth victory of the 2023 season at Suzuka was nothing short of a masterclass, arguably his most emphatic to date. From the moment the first practice session commenced, Verstappen was in a league of his own, appearing utterly untouchable throughout the entire weekend. His astonishing pole margin of over seven-tenths of a second highlighted the sheer pace difference he commanded over the competition, a gap that left rivals bewildered. In the race, his pace was as metronomic and precise as ever, allowing him to manage his tires and maintain a significant lead with apparent ease. The fact that his fastest lap was over a second quicker than Norris’s, despite him likely cruising for much of the race, underscored the immense performance reserve he had. While it was a demonstration of absolute dominance, the relative lack of direct on-track battles might place it just a tier below the adrenaline-fueled Spa triumph, where he carved through the field. Nevertheless, this was a performance that solidified Red Bull’s championship success and cemented Verstappen’s status as the sport’s reigning titan.
Sergio Perez – 3/10
Qualified: 5th (-4 places behind team mate, +0.773s)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: Four-stop (M-H-S-S-S)
Finished: Retired (Damage – L16)
- Secured fifth position on the grid during qualifying, a substantial seven-tenths slower than his dominant teammate.
- Sustained significant damage in a congested start-line squeeze, necessitating an early pit stop for repairs on lap two.
- Received a five-second time penalty for an infringement, passing Alonso before the crucial Safety Car line.
- Restarted the race from 18th place and managed to overtake both Albon and Zhou, positioning himself behind Ocon.
- In a disastrous turn of events, collided with Magnussen at the hairpin, causing further damage to his front wing.
- Pitted once more for a new front wing, during which he served his initial time penalty, only to pull into the garage the very next lap due to the extent of the damage.
- In a particularly humiliating spectacle, rejoined the race 41 minutes later solely to serve a second penalty incurred from the Magnussen incident, before finally retiring for good.
Sergio Perez’s performance at the Japanese Grand Prix could hardly have provided a more vivid contrast to his teammate Max Verstappen’s flawless display. From the outset, Perez struggled to match Verstappen’s pace, consistently being slower at every stage of the weekend. His qualifying effort saw him outpaced not only by Verstappen but also by two McLarens and a Ferrari, securing only fifth on the grid. The race itself spiraled into a series of unfortunate incidents and avoidable errors. Following his clumsy clash with Albon in Singapore, Perez’s move on Magnussen at Suzuka’s hairpin was arguably even more egregious, effectively ending his own race and severely compromising his rival’s. The subsequent sequence of events, which saw him return to the track after a lengthy delay solely to serve a penalty before finally retiring, was a truly humbling and somewhat farcical spectacle. This weekend starkly highlighted the immense pressure Perez is under and his struggles to perform consistently at the elite level, especially when his teammate is setting new benchmarks for dominance. It was a weekend he and Red Bull will be eager to forget, raising further questions about his future with the team.
Charles Leclerc – 8/10
Qualified: 4th (+2 places ahead of team mate, -0.308s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: Two-stop (M-M-H)
Finished: 4th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
- Demonstrated exceptional pace by setting the fastest time in Q2, then delivered a strong Q3 lap to beat Sergio Perez to fourth place.
- Maintained fourth position comfortably during the opening laps before pitting for a fresh set of medium tires.
- Executed decisive overtakes on both Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon on the same lap, effectively securing his fourth-place running until his second stop for hard tires.
- Successfully caught and passed George Russell for fourth place, ultimately finishing five seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc delivered one of the standout performances of the Suzuka weekend, demonstrating remarkable consistency and extracting the absolute maximum from his Ferrari package. After a brief dip in form, Leclerc was back to his sharpest, particularly in qualifying where he not only topped Q2 but then put in a superb lap in Q3 to out-qualify a Red Bull, positioning himself ahead of Sergio Perez. In the race, he held his ground commendably, navigating the early stages without incident. His strategic two-stop race saw him make crucial overtakes, notably dispatching both Alonso and Ocon with authority on the same lap. When it came to battling with the Mercedes, Leclerc showcased his racecraft, meticulously hunting down and passing George Russell to secure a well-deserved fourth place. He was visibly faster than his teammate Carlos Sainz throughout the entire weekend, and it was primarily the inherent limitations of his Ferrari that prevented him from mounting a serious challenge for a podium position, which remained just out of reach due to the strong pace of the McLarens. Leclerc’s drive was a testament to his talent and commitment, signaling a strong return to form.
Carlos Sainz Jnr – 6/10
Qualified: 6th (-2 places behind team mate, +0.308s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (M-M-H)
Finished: 6th (-2 places behind team mate)
- Qualified in sixth position, openly admitting to grappling with his car’s setup during the sessions.
- Gained a valuable place at the start due to the damaged Perez, then settled into fifth position behind his teammate.
- Pitted later than most front-runners for his second set of medium tires, subsequently passing Alonso and Ocon to regain sixth.
- Inherited fifth place when Russell made his pit stop, then made his second and final stop for hard tires.
- Rejoined the race in seventh, efficiently caught Lewis Hamilton, and then executed a clean overtake on George Russell for sixth place.
- Exerted pressure on Hamilton in the closing stages but ultimately could not challenge him, finishing fifth.
Carlos Sainz had a respectable enough weekend at Suzuka, although it was a stark contrast to his sensational race-winning performance in Singapore just a week prior. While he couldn’t replicate that magic, it was hardly an unexpected outcome given the characteristics of the Suzuka circuit and the relative pace of the competition. Sainz acknowledged struggling with his car’s setup during qualifying, which saw him slot into sixth, two places behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, and notably slower. However, he did manage to out-qualify both Mercedes drivers, a decent achievement. In the race, he capitalized on the early chaos, gaining a spot from the ailing Perez. His strategy involved slightly later pit stops than some rivals, which initially allowed Lewis Hamilton to undercut him. Yet, Sainz demonstrated his tenacious racecraft in the latter stages, methodically working his way back up the order. He notably picked off George Russell towards the end of the race, securing a solid sixth-place finish. While not on the same exceptional level as Leclerc over the three days, Sainz delivered a competent and professional performance, maximizing his points haul given the circumstances and the car’s limitations.
George Russell – 6/10
Qualified: 8th (-1 place behind team mate, +0.311s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 7th (-2 places behind team mate)
- Qualified in eighth position, one place and three tenths of a second behind his teammate.
- Lost a position to Fernando Alonso at the start, then briefly got ahead of his teammate at the restart for a single corner.
- Stayed out on medium tires while rivals ahead pitted, elevating him to second place before he eventually pitted for hard tires.
- Rejoined the track in seventh, gained positions as other cars ahead made their stops, but was subsequently passed by Lando Norris.
- Later overtaken by Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc, then asked by the team to allow his teammate through.
- Lost a further position to Carlos Sainz in the closing laps, ultimately finishing in seventh.
Mercedes were unable to contend for victory at Suzuka, unlike their strong showing in Singapore, and George Russell found himself in a tough fight for his seventh-place finish. Despite warning beforehand that a one-stop strategy looked highly improbable, Russell was the sole front-running driver to attempt this challenging approach. His qualifying effort saw him starting eighth, a position and three tenths behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton. The race began with him losing a spot to Fernando Alonso, and though he briefly overtook Hamilton at the restart, their early race battles were intense. Russell’s commitment to the one-stop strategy meant a prolonged first stint on mediums, elevating him to second place before his single stop for hard tires. While this initially put him in a strong track position, the pace advantage of cars on fresher rubber, particularly the McLarens and Leclerc, eventually told. He was later asked to let Hamilton through, and ultimately succumbed to pressure from Sainz in the closing stages. Despite these setbacks and the car’s inherent pace limitations at Suzuka, Russell put in a valiant and determined effort, demonstrating strong tire management for much of the race and making a difficult strategy work to salvage valuable points.
Lewis Hamilton – 6/10
Qualified: 7th (+1 place ahead of team mate, -0.311s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Finished: 5th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
- Qualified ahead of his teammate in a solid seventh position.
- Experienced contact with Sergio Perez during a congested squeeze at the start, but his car appeared to escape without significant damage.
- Briefly overtaken by his teammate, but immediately repassed him into Turn One, showcasing his assertive racecraft.
- Was noted by the stewards for forcing Russell off track at Spoon Corner, but no further action was taken after review.
- Pitted for hard tires and efficiently passed Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon to move back up to sixth position.
- Made his second stop for hard tires, which caused him to drop to seventh, but he gained sixth when Carlos Sainz made his stop.
- Caught his teammate in the closing laps and was allowed through, moving into fifth place where he ultimately finished.
Lewis Hamilton qualified and finished ahead of his teammate George Russell at Suzuka, yet it was not an entirely clear-cut demonstration of superior pace from the seven-time world champion. He started seventh, securing a marginal advantage over Russell in qualifying. The race began with an incident where he made contact with Sergio Perez, though thankfully without lasting damage. What followed was an intriguing early battle with Russell, where Hamilton had to fight hard to maintain track position and even came under scrutiny for an incident at Spoon corner, though no penalty was issued. Opting for a more conventional two-stop strategy, Hamilton methodically worked his way through the field after his pit stops, executing clean overtakes. In the closing stages, with Russell struggling on older tires after his one-stop attempt, the team made a strategic call for Hamilton to be allowed past, elevating him to fifth. He then had to absorb considerable pressure from Carlos Sainz to hold onto that position. While a fifth-place finish is a decent result, it underscored that Mercedes were not at their strongest around the high-speed Suzuka circuit, which ultimately limited the potential impact Hamilton could have had, making it a weekend of managing expectations rather than challenging for the top.
Esteban Ocon – 7/10
Qualified: 14th (-2 places behind team mate, +0.077s)
Start: -5 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Finished: 9th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
- Eliminated from Q2 in 14th position, just under a tenth of a second behind his teammate.
- Inadvertently triggered contact with Valtteri Bottas at the start by drifting into him, resulting in an unfortunate puncture.
- Pitted for repairs and restarted from 15th place on hard tires, demonstrating good recovery by passing Kevin Magnussen.
- Ran a commendably long middle stint on hard tires, a key strategic element, before his second pit stop for fresh hard tires on lap 28.
- Maintained ninth position behind Fernando Alonso until he was caught by his teammate and subsequently asked to let him pass.
- Initially allowed Pierre Gasly through, but was then handed the place back on the final lap, finishing ninth.
Esteban Ocon emerged from his Alpine satisfied with his performance and the result at Suzuka, and deservedly so. While he was narrowly out-qualified by his teammate Pierre Gasly, placing him 14th, his race craft and recovery were exemplary. The start saw him unfortunately drift into Valtteri Bottas, causing a puncture and a mandatory early pit stop. However, this early setback didn’t derail his race. After rejoining, Ocon essentially executed a highly impressive one-stop strategy on tires, running an incredibly long and efficient middle stint on hard compound tires, a feat particularly noteworthy given the high tire wear concerns at Suzuka. This allowed him to climb steadily through the field. Although he was initially asked to let Gasly through for a strategic attempt on Alonso, the team ultimately reinstated his ninth position on the final lap, a fair reward for his cooperative spirit and strong performance throughout the race. His ability to keep his car out of further trouble and manage his tires so effectively highlighted his maturity and skill, securing valuable points for Alpine.
Pierre Gasly – 6/10
Qualified: 12th (+2 places ahead of team mate, -0.077s)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Finished: 10th (-1 place behind team mate)
- Experienced a significant crash at Degner 2 at the end of FP2, resulting in substantial front-end damage to his car.
- Comfortably progressed into Q2 but was ultimately knocked out in 12th position, just ahead of his teammate.
- Dropped two places at the start of the race but steadily regained positions as rivals made early pit stops before his own late first stop.
- Fitted hard tires for his second stint, resuming in 15th, and executed a series of strong overtakes on Zhou, Lawson, and Tsunoda to climb to eighth.
- Made his second stop for hard tires, falling to 11th, then passed Nico Hulkenberg before catching his teammate, Esteban Ocon.
- Was strategically allowed through by Ocon to challenge Fernando Alonso, but could not close the gap to the Aston Martin.
- Was instructed to let Ocon by on the final lap and, though begrudgingly, obliged, finishing in tenth position.
Pierre Gasly managed to secure another points finish for Alpine at Suzuka, delivering a decent overall performance despite some notable moments throughout the weekend. His small error at the end of Friday’s second practice session, which resulted in a significant crash at Degner 2, caused considerable damage but fortunately occurred at a time that minimized disruption to his weekend preparation. On Saturday, he bounced back impressively, comfortably making it into Q2 and narrowly out-qualifying his teammate for 12th on the grid. In the race, after an initial drop of two places at the start, Gasly demonstrated good recovery pace. His strategic pit stops and strong overtakes, particularly on Zhou, Lawson, and Tsunoda, propelled him up the order. He found himself in a tactical situation where he was allowed past Ocon to try and attack Fernando Alonso for eighth. However, his inability to close the gap to the Aston Martin in time made the team’s subsequent instruction to hand the place back to Ocon on the final lap, despite his visible displeasure, understandable and fair given Ocon’s earlier cooperation and long first stint. Gasly ultimately secured tenth place, adding another point to his tally in a weekend that highlighted his recovery skills and race pace, albeit with a touch of team orders frustration.
Lando Norris – 8/10
Qualified: 3rd (-1 place behind team mate, +0.035s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Finished: 2nd (+1 place ahead of team mate)
- Was narrowly beaten by his teammate for a front-row start, securing an impressive third on the grid.
- Made an exceptional start, initially getting ahead of both Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, but had to settle into second by Turn Two.
- Led one lap of the race when Verstappen pitted, before making his own first pit stop for hard tires.
- Emerged from the pits behind his teammate, but was strategically allowed through into second position.
- Executed his second pit stop for hard tires and swiftly passed George Russell to solidify his position.
- While he couldn’t challenge Max Verstappen’s untouchable lead, he significantly pulled away from his teammate to secure a comfortable second place.
Lando Norris continued his impressive run of form by securing back-to-back podiums at Suzuka, achieving what was undoubtedly the maximum possible result given Max Verstappen’s dominant pace. His qualifying performance was stellar, placing him third on the grid, narrowly edged out by his rookie teammate Oscar Piastri by less than half a tenth of a second. The race start was particularly strong, as he launched past Piastri and briefly challenged Verstappen for the lead before settling into a clear second place. Norris’s race pace was consistently strong and he executed his two-stop strategy flawlessly. After his first pit stop, the team made a pragmatic decision to allow him past Piastri, recognizing Norris’s slightly superior pace and experience in converting strong positions. From that point, he consolidated his second place, effortlessly pulling away from his teammate and establishing a significant gap behind Verstappen. This performance was a clear demonstration of Norris’s growing maturity, his ability to capitalize on the car’s potential, and his consistent skill in race management. His second-place finish was a well-deserved reward for a strong and error-free weekend, further solidifying McLaren’s resurgence.
Oscar Piastri – 7/10
Qualified: 2nd (+1 place ahead of team mate, -0.035s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Finished: 3rd (-1 place behind team mate)
- Participated in his first-ever Suzuka Grand Prix, concurrently running with the team’s latest aerodynamic updates for the first time.
- Narrowly out-qualified his teammate to secure his first career front-row start, a phenomenal achievement for a rookie.
- Launched aggressively off the line, challenging Max Verstappen, but ultimately settled for third place into Turn One.
- Pitted just before a Virtual Safety Car period, which allowed him to undercut Lando Norris for a temporary second place, but was later instructed to let his teammate through.
- Made his second pit stop for hard tires and subsequently passed George Russell to regain third position.
- While he fell away from his teammate’s pace in the latter stages, he effectively maintained a comfortable advantage over Charles Leclerc to secure his maiden career podium finish.
Welcome, Oscar Piastri, to the exclusive club of drivers who have achieved a podium finish in their rookie Formula 1 season. Ever since first getting his hands on McLaren’s significant upgrade package at Silverstone, Piastri has consistently threatened to score a top-three finish, and thanks to the team’s latest developments brought to Suzuka, he finally delivered. His performance throughout the weekend was immensely impressive, particularly his qualifying effort where he sensationally out-qualified his more experienced teammate, Lando Norris, to secure a phenomenal first-ever front-row start. While Norris got the better start in the race, Piastri showed immense composure and pace for a rookie making his Suzuka debut. He benefited from a fortuitous VSC during his first pit stop, briefly gaining on Norris, but the team’s strategic decision to let Norris through was ultimately pragmatic, acknowledging Norris’s slightly stronger race pace on the day. Despite admitting he didn’t quite have Norris’s pace in the race, Piastri looked remarkably confident and controlled, managing his tires and maintaining a significant gap to Charles Leclerc behind. His third-place finish was a thoroughly well-deserved maiden career podium, cementing his status as one of the most exciting young talents on the grid and a key part of McLaren’s future.
Valtteri Bottas – 6/10
Qualified: 16th (+3 places ahead of team mate, -0.349s)
Start: -4 places
Strategy: Two-stop (S-S-H)
Finished: Retired (Damage – L8)
- Narrowly missed out on Q2, being eliminated in 16th position, despite admitting he hadn’t fully extracted the car’s potential.
- Was caught up in the tight squeeze on the run to Turn One, leading to damage to his car.
- Fell to the rear of the field after pitting for repairs, rejoining last.
- Hit by Logan Sargeant at the hairpin on the restart lap, forcing him back to the pits for further repairs.
- Emerged on hard tires but was ultimately forced to pull into the pits to retire on the very next lap due to irreparable damage.
It was a truly frustrating weekend for Valtteri Bottas at Suzuka, whose race was unfortunately cut short due to a series of incidents in the chaotic opening laps. He performed creditably in qualifying, narrowly missing out on Q2 in 16th, and importantly, he was quicker than his teammate Zhou Guanyu. The race started with promise, as he made a decent getaway, drawing level with Esteban Ocon and Alexander Albon. However, he soon became entangled in the midfield melee, sustaining damage in the squeeze at the start which forced him into an early pit stop and dropped him to the very rear. His hopes for recovery were then brutally dashed on the restart lap when he was entirely blamelessly hit by Logan Sargeant at the hairpin. This clumsy move caused further, irreparable damage to his car, forcing him back to the pits and eventually leading to his retirement just eight laps into the race. It was a weekend where Bottas showed reasonable pace for his Alfa Romeo package but was ultimately a victim of circumstances and others’ mistakes, preventing him from demonstrating his full potential. He could at least take solace in being the faster Alfa Romeo driver until his premature exit.
Zhou Guanyu – 5/10
Qualified: 19th (-3 places behind team mate, +0.349s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Three-stop (S-S-S-H)
Finished: 13th
- Suffered brake problems during FP2, significantly limiting his crucial running time.
- Knocked out in 19th place during Q1, attributing his struggles to traffic and a notable mistake at Degner 2.
- Started the race on soft tires but was unfortunately struck by debris at the start, necessitating an early pit stop for repairs on lap one.
- Restarted in 16th on new soft tires, then subsequently passed by Sergio Perez before his second pit stop for softs.
- Ran ahead of the Haas drivers for a period and eventually made his third and final stop for hard tires on lap 29.
- Fell to last position after his final stop but efficiently moved ahead of the Haas drivers during their pit cycles to ultimately finish 13th.
Zhou Guanyu delivered what could be described as a textbook average performance at the Japanese Grand Prix; he neither produced anything particularly impressive nor committed any glaring errors. His weekend was hampered by brake problems in FP2, which limited his valuable track time and likely contributed to his struggles. In qualifying, he was underwhelming, getting knocked out in 19th and admitting to issues with traffic and a mistake at Degner 2. This placed him significantly behind his teammate Valtteri Bottas. In the race, he made a decent start, but was immediately unlucky to collect a large chunk of debris from an incident he wasn’t involved in, forcing him into an early pit stop for repairs. Even once the race settled and he rejoined, Zhou didn’t exactly set the circuit alight with his pace. He navigated the race steadily, employing a three-stop strategy to manage his tires. While he eventually managed to finish ahead of the Haas drivers by the end of the race, ultimately securing 13th position, it was a largely anonymous performance that reflected the limitations of his Alfa Romeo package and his inability to significantly impact the midfield battles. A solid but unspectacular outing for the Chinese driver.
Lance Stroll – 4/10
Qualified: 17th (-7 places behind team mate, +0.21s)
Start: +5 places
Strategy: One-stop (S-M)
Finished: Retired (Rear wing failure – L21)
- Consistently behind his teammate, Fernando Alonso, in every single session throughout the weekend.
- Failed to progress alongside his teammate into Q2, being eliminated in 17th position.
- Managed to gain five valuable places amidst the chaos of the opening lap, elevating him to 11th before his planned pit stop for medium tires.
- Dropped to 14th after his stop and then managed to pass Nico Hulkenberg for 13th place.
- Was unfortunately forced to retire from the race after his rear wing was deemed unsafely loose by the team.
Lance Stroll endured yet another subpar performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, further compounding a challenging season. Despite the Aston Martin AMR23 being a car demonstrably capable of securing top-ten finishes, Stroll never looked like delivering such a result. Throughout the weekend, he was consistently and significantly off the pace of his experienced teammate, Fernando Alonso, in every session. His qualifying effort saw him eliminated in Q1, seven places and over two tenths behind Alonso, which is a substantial margin. While he avoided any major errors in the race and made an excellent start, gaining five places amidst the opening lap chaos, his performance gradually receded. After his single pit stop for medium tires, he found himself falling back from Alonso, struggling to maintain a competitive pace. His retirement on lap 21, due to a rear wing failure, was unequivocally not his fault; the team made the correct and safety-conscious decision to pull the car in. However, the retirement simply capped off a weekend where he was far from maximizing the potential of his machinery, placing him firmly in the shadow of his teammate and adding to the questions surrounding his recent form.
Fernando Alonso – 7/10
Qualified: 10th (+7 places ahead of team mate, -0.21s)
Start: +4 places
Strategy: Two-stop (S-H-H)
Finished: 8th
- Just managed to scrape into Q3 in tenth, and ultimately qualified in that position after failing to improve on his Q2 time.
- Started on soft tires, gaining an impressive four places on the first lap to run in sixth position until his first pit stop for hard tires.
- Executed a strategic undercut on both Ferraris and Lewis Hamilton, but was soon re-overtaken by all three due to their superior pace.
- Pitted for a second set of hard tires and passed Zhou Guanyu and Yuki Tsunoda to climb back up to eighth position.
- Ran a relatively lonely final stint in eighth place, where he ultimately finished the race.
Fernando Alonso, although not a major player challenging at the very front throughout the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, once again demonstrated his enduring class by extracting what was arguably the maximum result possible from his Aston Martin package. His ability to consistently bring home points, especially in races where top rivals like Sergio Perez falter, remains a cornerstone of his season. He humbly expressed being “very proud” to reach Q3, a testament to the Aston Martin’s declining one-lap pace compared to earlier in the season. On paper, he should perhaps have out-qualified Yuki Tsunoda, but in the race, Alonso proved his mettle once more. His start was exceptional, gaining four crucial places on the opening lap to position himself impressively in sixth. While he couldn’t hold off the faster Ferraris and Mercedes in the long run, reflecting the car’s true performance envelope, he executed a clever undercut and then managed the race strategically. His passes on Zhou and Tsunoda in the latter stages solidified his eighth-place finish. This result was more a reflection of his car’s current limitations than any deficiency in his driving; Alonso squeezed every ounce of performance available, reaffirming his reputation as a master tactician and a relentless points scorer.
Kevin Magnussen – 6/10
Qualified: 15th (+3 places ahead of team mate, -0.323s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Finished: 15th (-1 place behind team mate)
- Just managed to reach Q2 in 15th position and was eliminated in that same spot.
- Held his starting position at the outset, was then passed by Esteban Ocon, before tragically being punted by Sergio Perez.
- Fell to 17th after pitting for hard tires and repairs, then strategically allowed his teammate through for 13th.
- Ran at the very back of the field for the majority of the final stint, ultimately finishing a lap down in 15th.
Kevin Magnussen delivered a decent enough performance for Haas in what was another challenging weekend for the team at Suzuka. He demonstrated his pace advantage over his teammate Nico Hulkenberg by qualifying 15th and progressing to Q2. Unfortunately, his race was effectively ruined after just 12 laps through no fault of his own, when Sergio Perez made a clumsy lunge and clattered into him at the hairpin. This incident forced Magnussen into the pits for repairs and a switch to hard tires, immediately dropping him down the order. From that point, his race became a difficult exercise in damage limitation. He fell behind his teammate and found himself relegated to the back of the field, struggling to make his hard tires last in a Haas car notoriously hard on its rubber. While he tried his best to manage the situation, the severe tire degradation characteristic of the Haas package, combined with the early race incident, meant any hope of a points finish was quickly extinguished. It was a race that promised a little more, only to be undone by external factors, leaving Magnussen with a frustrating 15th place finish, a lap down.
Nico Hulkenberg – 6/10
Qualified: 18th (-3 places behind team mate, +0.323s)
Start: +5 places
Strategy: Three-stop (S-M-H-M)
Finished: 14th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
- Had his initial qualifying lap deleted for track limits infringement, then was subsequently knocked out of Q1 in 18th position.
- Leaped up to an impressive 13th place at the start, capitalizing on the chaos ahead, but then pitted very early for medium tires.
- Was passed by Lance Stroll before his second pit stop for hard tires, then passed his teammate to run 11th before his third stop.
- Emerged from his final pit stop ahead of his teammate in 14th position, where he would ultimately finish the race.
In a race weekend where high tire degradation was predicted to severely compound Haas’s inherent weaknesses, Nico Hulkenberg’s 14th-place finish carried little shame. His qualifying performance on Saturday could have been better, as he had a lap deleted for track limits and was subsequently knocked out in Q1, placing him behind his teammate Kevin Magnussen. However, in the race, Hulkenberg demonstrated his experience and ability to keep his nose clean, making a superb start amidst the opening lap chaos to jump five places to 13th. His three-stop strategy was an aggressive attempt to manage the notoriously hungry Haas tires. Despite being passed by Lance Stroll and facing continuous challenges with tire management, Hulkenberg fought diligently. He managed to move ahead of his teammate and maintain a relatively clean race, working hard to execute his strategy. Ultimately, the raw pace and tire wear characteristics of the Haas car meant that contending for points without significant attrition from other cars was always going to be an uphill battle. Hulkenberg, nonetheless, delivered a solid and professional drive, extracting what he could from his package under difficult circumstances.
Yuki Tsunoda – 6/10
Qualified: 9th (+2 places ahead of team mate, -0.304s)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-H)
Finished: 12th (-1 place behind team mate)
- Reached Q3, initially in seventh position, before ultimately beating Fernando Alonso to secure an impressive ninth place on the grid.
- Dropped two places at the start, then ran behind his teammate, before making his first pit stop for medium tires on lap nine.
- Executed a successful undercut on his teammate, but was then undercut himself when pitting for hard tires.
- Closed to within a second of his teammate but expressed frustration about being “stuck” in dirty air, hindering further progress.
- Followed his teammate home to finish in 12th position, just outside the points.
On a particularly special weekend for Yuki Tsunoda, his second home Grand Prix at Suzuka, the racing gods were kind enough to allow him to complete the race, especially after two previous rounds where he had failed to finish the opening lap. Tsunoda truly excelled in qualifying, managing to get through into Q3 and remarkably out-qualify the seasoned Fernando Alonso for ninth place on the grid, delighting the home crowd. The race start proved tricky, however, as he dropped two places, getting caught out by the melee ahead and falling behind his teammate Liam Lawson. What followed was a thrilling intra-team battle, with the AlphaTauri pair trading places through the pit stop cycles. While Tsunoda managed an early undercut on Lawson, he was later undercut himself. In the final stint, despite closing within a second of his teammate, he frustratingly found himself “stuck” in dirty air, preventing him from making a decisive overtake. Ultimately, he followed his teammate home to finish in 12th, just outside the points. Despite this, Tsunoda could be genuinely pleased with his overall efforts, especially his strong qualifying and his ability to finish the race cleanly in front of his passionate home fans, a significant improvement from recent outings.
Liam Lawson – 6/10
Qualified: 11th (-2 places behind team mate, +0.304s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-H)
Finished: 11th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
- Narrowly missed out on progressing to Q3, falling short by just half a tenth of a second behind his teammate.
- Started on soft tires, moved ahead of his teammate at the start, then made an early pit stop for medium tires.
- Ran behind his teammate after being undercut, then was subsequently passed by Pierre Gasly.
- Executed a strategic undercut on his teammate during the second stop for hard tires and then passed Kevin Magnussen.
- Maintained position just ahead of his teammate for the final stint of the race, ultimately finishing just outside the points.
Liam Lawson, competing at a circuit he knows intimately from his Super Formula days, delivered yet another solid, mistake-free performance throughout the Suzuka Grand Prix weekend. While he lost the qualifying battle against his teammate Yuki Tsunoda by a narrow margin, placing 11th, he managed to turn the tables on Sunday when it truly mattered. Lawson made a strong start on soft tires, immediately gaining a place and moving ahead of Tsunoda. He executed an early pit stop for mediums, which initially saw him fall behind his teammate after an undercut. However, Lawson demonstrated his race pace and strategic understanding, making a crucial second pit stop that allowed him to undercut Tsunoda once more. From that point onwards, he skillfully maintained his position just ahead of his more experienced teammate for the final stint of the race. While there was little he could do to challenge the Alpines ahead, Lawson’s ability to get ahead of Tsunoda and then hold him off was a clear indicator of his impressive talent and adaptability. Finishing 11th, just outside the points, marked another highly impressive weekend for the young driver, showcasing his composure and consistency in Formula 1.
Alexander Albon – 6/10
Qualified: 13th (+7 places ahead of team mate)
Start: -4 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-M-S)
Finished: Retired (Damage – L26)
- Successfully reached Q2 but was ultimately eliminated in 13th position.
- Sustained damage in a collision with Valtteri Bottas at the start, necessitating an early pit stop for repairs on lap one.
- Was subsequently passed by Sergio Perez and then ran at the very back of the field, ahead of his teammate.
- Was unfortunately forced to pull into the pits to retire midway through the race due to the extensive damage.
Suzuka was never expected to be Williams’ strongest race of the season, given the circuit’s high-speed characteristics which don’t play to the car’s strengths. However, Alexander Albon still managed to put himself in a respectable position for the start of the race, qualifying 13th, adeptly splitting the two Alpines. His launch off the line wasn’t ideal, but he quickly became a victim of circumstance, caught in the early lap chaos. He was unfortunately hit by Valtteri Bottas, which sent his car airborne and caused significant damage. This incident forced him into an immediate pit stop on lap one, dropping him to the rear of the field. From that point, his race was severely compromised. He fell behind Sergio Perez and spent his time battling at the very back, trying to manage the compromised performance of his car. Eventually, the sustained damage proved too much for the Williams, and Albon was reluctantly forced to retire midway through the race on lap 26. It was an unfortunate and premature end to his weekend, a testament to his fighting spirit but ultimately undone by an incident beyond his control, preventing him from potentially salvaging anything from a difficult race for the team.
Logan Sargeant – 2/10
Qualified: 20th (-7 places behind team mate)
Start: +4 places
Strategy: Three-stop (M-M-M-H)
Finished: Retired (Damage – L22)
- Participated in his first-ever race at the challenging Suzuka circuit.
- Crashed heavily out of Q1 in the final corner, completely wrecking his car and putting immense pressure on his mechanics.
- Was forced to start the Grand Prix from the pit lane with an additional 10-second time penalty due to parc fermé modifications required for repairs.
- Managed to gain four places amidst the chaotic start, then immediately pitted on lap two to serve his penalty.
- Locked up severely into the hairpin and collided with Valtteri Bottas at the restart, damaging his front wing and earning himself a further 5-second penalty.
- Pitted for repairs and found himself running in last position, then pitted again to serve his second penalty before finally retiring on the subsequent lap.
If Logan Sargeant is currently fighting to convince Williams of his worthiness for that final available seat on the 2024 grid, he could not have chosen a more crucial or sensitive time to deliver one of his worst weekends of the entire season. Up until the qualifying session, Sargeant appeared to be having a relatively competent start to his Suzuka debut. However, this promising beginning dramatically unraveled when he threw his car into the wall with a silly and avoidable error in the final corner of Q1, leaving his dedicated mechanics with yet another significant repair job. The race itself offered no respite. Just 60 seconds into his first true green flag lap of racing after starting from the pit lane due to parc fermé infringements and a prior penalty, Sargeant prematurely wrecked his race by clumsily crashing into Valtteri Bottas at the hairpin during the restart. This incident not only caused further damage to his Williams but also earned him another five-second penalty. The series of events ultimately led to him being brought into the pits to retire, concluding a truly poor and deeply disappointing performance. This weekend served as a stark reminder of the steep learning curve he faces and the urgent need to clean up his act if he hopes to secure his Formula 1 future.
Over to you
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2023 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights
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- Mercedes must halve deficit to Red Bull before 2024 season starts – Hamilton
- Mercedes expect “tight” fight for second in championship after Ferrari gains
- Norris breaks Hulkenberg’s record for most points without a win in F1
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