Max Verstappen returned to winning ways around Suzuka and single-handedly sealed the constructors title for Red Bull in 2023 as teammate Perez continued to struggle.

Red Bull wrapped up the first of the two world titles in 2023 and earned a deserved constructor’s title. They followed on from last season’s success with unmatched consistency and have beaten multiple records comfortably.

McLaren continue their resurgence with a double podium at Suzuka, as Oscar Piastri joined an illusive club of Australian legends and rookies, finishing on his first podium. Ferrari closed the gap to Mercedes in the constructors championship; a P4 and P6 trumping the Silver Arrows P5 and P7.

Alpine had another day where at least one of their drivers was left unhappy. Pierre Gasly was incredibly frustrated after being told to hand back ninth to Esteban Ocon, after the French outfit deployed team orders to catch Alonso. The Spaniard carried Aston Martin on his shoulders with a P8 finish.

It was a race to forget for Sergio Perez, as the Mexican retired twice – a two week break before Qatar is not only what he needs, but what the American Logan Sargeant requires.

Sargeant crashed in qualifying, before hitting Bottas in the race, as rookie errors keep on compounding the Williams driver’s progress. His F1 drive for next year is under question marks which keep getting bigger since the summer break.

Qualifying Rundown

It was a less entertaining affair on Saturday as qualifying went as expected following practice sessions and timing simulations.

Verstappen cruised to pole position by over half a second, putting in one of the laps of the season to beat both McLarens, as Oscar Piastri outqualified teammate Norris. Charles Leclerc will join the Brit on the second row.

Sergio Perez continued to struggle and will start P5, as almost 1 second separated the two Red Bull drivers. He has previous race winner Carlos Sainz for company, as both Mercedes locked out the 4^th row.

Yuki Tsunoda put in a brilliant performance at his home race to get into Q3, as he beat Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to start in P9. His teammate Liam Lawson was so close to the Top 10 shootout and will start P11.

Lance Stroll performed badly again and suffered another Q1 knockout as Aston Martin continue to rely on Alonso in their battle for P4 in the constructors championship. The green machine is under pressure as McLaren’s ascendance in 2023 continues further.

Race Rundown

Race Start

The two McLarens got a brilliant start but it was Verstappen who fended them off into Turns 1 and 2. Behind it was 4 wide as both Ferraris, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton duelled into the first corner, and it did not end well for the Red Bull. Perez broke his front wing pushing the Mercedes onto the grass.

It was not a dramatic collision, unlike the activities that occurred behind. The Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas was forced wide by Esteban Ocon and sent Alex Albon airborne. The other Alfa of Zhou Guanyu was also carrying front wing damage as a result of debris, caused by the melee.

The two Alpha Tauris were side by side all the way through the first sector before the safety car was deployed. Perez, Albon, both Alfa Romeos and Ocon entered the pits. Hamilton was incredibly lucky and despite receiving damage, he was not into the wall.

Safety Car Restart

Verstappen retained his lead followed by the two McLarens and two Ferraris. Alonso threatened on the soft compound tyre and led the two Mercedes, who were busy duelling. Russell dived it down the inside of Lewis at the final corners, but it was the veteran who had a better exit down the pit straight as Hamilton maintained P7.

This would not be the first time the two Mercedes would battle it out during the race, but for now, Lewis Hamilton was wrestling his damaged car. Logan Sargeant made contact with Valterri Bottas at the Turn 11 hairpin and both were in the pits with damage. The Williams locked up and sent the Alfa Romeo flying into the gravel trap.

Perez’s Day Worsens

Behind, all eyes were on Sergio Perez and the progress he was making through the field. Sitting in P15, he despatched Ocon for P15 and had his eyes on Kevin Magnussen. By lap 12 he was on the rear end of the Haas and was sizing up a move.

From so far back, he made a move into Turn 11 up the inside and smashed into the back of the Danish driver. For the second time in the race, Perez was into the pits for front wing repairs, and the VSC was deployed. McLaren and Oscar Piastri pitted behind it whilst the rest remained on track.

On lap 15, Perez retired for the first time. His poor form continues and seems endless at the moment. He would receive penalties not just for this contact, but for passing Lance Stroll under the Safety Car whilst entering the pits.

Strange Day for Mercedes

The battle between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton was odd. Despite having damage, Lewis was quicker than George, but was more exposed to making errors. He was off at Turn 9 into the gravel trap allowing his teammate to close in. With dirty tyres, he would be slow for a sector.

At Turn 13, Russell made a move but was forced wide by Hamilton, who too went off for good measure. Both of them were fighting a pointless battle, that was allowing both Ferraris to go clear. Talking of being clear out front, Piastri’s strategic undercut had not allowed him to overtake Verstappen for the lead. He was in front of Norris though.

Another driver who attempted an undercut was Alonso. Whilst he may have come out ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard dispatched his compatriot quickly, and now Lewis Hamilton was on the Aston Martin’s rear end.

Through 130R, Hamilton made his move stick. Teammate Russell was in P2, attempting a 1 stop strategy different to the rest. Whilst he had track position, the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and his own teammate would be on his case throughout the last part of the race.

George Russell’s defence

By lap 27, all cars had stopped including Russell, but eyes were on the two McLarens. Sitting 13 seconds behind race leader Verstappen but 5 seconds ahead of the two Ferraris, P2 and P3 was certain. However Norris was not happy about his teammate holding him up, and the Mclarens switched into Turn 1.

On lap 38, Russell’s defence began, but it would ultimately be in vain. Norris easily passed him into Turn 1, and a few laps later, teammate Piastri was right behind. The Australian did the same as his teammate on lap 42.

Behind, Red Bull had a story of two halves. One driver leading the rest by 16 seconds, the other about to make it out on track to serve his penalties. Once Perez had done so, he retired for the second time in the race.

By lap 45, Russell had Leclerc to worry about and the Monegasque made his move around the outside of the Brit into Turn 1. A couple of laps later, teammate Hamilton was within DRS range and had a fast-charging Spaniard in a Ferrari closing down.

Mercedes activated team orders in order to keep Hamilton ahead of Sainz, but at the expense of Russell. The youngster was not best pleased, and complained heavily on the radio, wishing to try the same tactics deployed by Sainz in Singapore.

Russell dropped into P7 after Sainz easily overtook him on brand new rubber in comparison to the tyres on the Mercedes. Hamilton, still carrying damage from the lap 1 collision with Perez, had to hold onto P5 for the remaining 3 laps.

Verstappen Dominance Resumes

Out in front, leading by almost 20 seconds, Verstappen crossed the line to give Red Bull their deserved constructors championship for a second year running. A merciless performance that gives the Dutchman all but two hands on the drivers crown, which will expectedly be decided around Qatar.

McLaren bring home a double podium which was the maximum they would have got. They are chasing down Aston Martin at such a rate that P4 looks theirs to lose at the moment. Ferrari close the gap to Mercedes to just 20 points as their battle for P2 is anything but over.

Fernando Alonso is fighting a one-handed battle for Aston Martin at the moment. Teammate Stroll was pointless once again as he feels heat from both Alpines in the drivers championship. Gasly would have been level on points with the Canadian, had he not been given orders to hand P9 to Ocon.

Both Frenchman at Alpine seem to be fighting a pointless war as Alpine have nothing to gain in front or behind. P6 is theirs in the constructors, and there is nothing to lose or gain. Alpha Tauri finished on the cusp of points with Liam Lawson once again outperforming teammate Tsunoda in P11.

Haas were anonymous once again, and Zhou Guanyu finished P13. There are battles aplenty in the constructors championship, and the battle for P7 is not going anywhere. With money on the line to be won, everything is to fight for in the final rounds of this season.

A sprint race weekend in Qatar sets up a mighty end to this 2023 season, and even though P1 in both championships will most likely be finalised there, a battle for P2 is there for us to enjoy…