Verstappen leads Red Bull to a 12 finish

World champion Max Verstappen got back to winning ways on Sunday with a third straight poletoflag victory at the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, leading team mate Sergio Perez across the line for a Red Bull 12 at Suzuka.

The Dutchman suffered his first retirement since 2022 in Melbourne last time out to snap a ninerace winning streak but had no mechanical issues this week in a dominant performance to make it three wins from four races this season.

Verstappen, who becomes only the second driver to win three consecutive Japanese Grands Prix alongside seventimes World champion Michael Schumacher, now has a 13point lead in the driver standings over Perez.

Red Bull leads the constructor standings on 141 points ahead of Ferrari (120) and McLaren (69).

Ferrari’s other driver Carlos Sainz, the winner in Australia two weeks ago, rode fresher tyres in the latter stages of the race to grab the final podium spot, edging out Leclerc, who used a onestop strategy.

But the Spaniard was more than 20 seconds behind Verstappen, underlining the gap between the teams in dry, sunny conditions.

McLaren’s Lando Norris finished fifth with the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Hamilton down in a disappointing seventh and ninth respectively after a tactical strategy to switch to hard tyres early in the race backfired.

The results:

Verstappen (Red Bull) 1h:54m:23.566s; 2. Perez (Red Bull) + 12.535s; 3. Sainz (Ferrari) 20.866, 4. Leclerc (Ferrari) 26.522;

5. Norris (McLaren) 29.700; 6. Alonoso (Aston Martin) 44.272; 7. Russell (Mercedes) 45.951; 8. Piastri (McLaren) 47.525; 9. Hamilton (Mercedes) 48.626, +1 lap: 10. Tsunoda (RB F1); 11. Hulkenberg (Haas); 12. Stroll (Aston Martin); 13. Magnussen (Haas); 14. Bottas (Sauber); 15. Ocon (Alpine); 16. Gasly (Alpine);

17. Sargeant (Williams); DNF: Ricciardo (RB F1); Albon (Williams); Guanyu (Sauber)

Standings: Drivers: 1. Verstappen 77; Perez 64, 3. Leclerc 59, 4. Sainz 55; 5. Norris

37.

Constructors: 1. Red Bull 141; 2. Ferrari 120; 3. McLaren 69; 4. Mercedes 34; 5. Aston Martin 33.

AP Bubbly time: Ferrari’s Sainz dunks winner Verstappen of Red Bull in champagne after the latter’s winning drive.