Summary

  • Max Verstappen wins from Lando Norris

  • Piastri third, Leclerc fourth, Russell fifth, Antonelli sixth

  • Hamilton seventh and Bearman 10th

  • Norris complains that Verstappen forced him on to grass at pit-lane exit

  • Get involved: #bbcf1

  1. Postpublished at 08:30 British Summer Time 6 April

    .Image source, Getty Images

    We don't have long to wait for the next race as Formula 1 heads to Bahrain next weekend.

    We'll have live coverage of all the action from there but we're going to wrap up our coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix now.

    See you later!

  2. Verstappen fends off Norris to win in Japan - reportpublished at 08:24 British Summer Time 6 April

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent at Suzuka

    Red Bull's Max Verstappen fended off a race-long challenge from the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the Japanese Grand Prix.

    The Dutchman's fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka was his first of the year and moves Verstappen to within one point of Norris at the head of the drivers' championship.

    Verstappen's drive was cool under intense pressure, with rarely more than two seconds between him and Norris, and founded on a quite brilliant pole position lap on Saturday.

    McLaren had feared that the Red Bull would be difficult to pass if Verstappen held the lead at the start, and so it proved.

    Verstappen led the two McLarens for the entire first stint, the three lapping closely together.

    There may be questions as to why McLaren pitted Piastri first, when it might have made sense to attack Verstappen with Norris with an earlier pit stop.

    Read the full report here

  3. 'Not much action'published at 08:19 British Summer Time 6 April

    McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, speaking to Sky Sports: "The race was mostly decided yesterday. There wasn't much action going on in the race and we ended up with the same result as qualifying.

    "We got a lot of points and so it was encouraging again for our car but the others are not far behind and sometimes ahead."

  4. 'I was definitely expecting more' - Tsunodapublished at 08:12 British Summer Time 6 April

    Yuki TsunodaImage source, Getty Images

    Yuki Tsunoda finished in 12th in his first race for Red Bull, he told Sky Sports: "I'm happy with the race in terms of my performance but in terms of results it's quite tough especially for my home grand prix.

    "I was definitely expecting more, I at least wanted to finish in the points but it's a mixed feeling."

  5. 'Verstappen is like Mr Motivator'published at 08:05 British Summer Time 6 April

    Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, speaking to Sky Sports: "There's no better tonic for motivation than winning. Verstappen is like Mr Motivator. It was a flat-out race, there was no tyre saving. Bahrain is a completely different challenge. [Yuki] has dialled himself into the car and the team, so he should make a step forward over the next couple of races.

    "For us all priority is on the drivers' championship, for us the constructors' will be harder."

  6. 'It could have been a different story for Norris'published at 08:01 British Summer Time 6 April

    Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I think Lando Norris will be thinking that he should have slotted right behind Max Verstappen [on the pit-stop exit], he had a faster pit stop by a second compared to Verstappen.

    It could have been a different story to this race if Norris did slot in behind, he would have been only a couple of tenths behind down into Turn One.

  7. Postpublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 6 April

    Max Verstappen was the only points-scoring Red Bull as Yuki Tsunoda's debut ended with him finishing 12th.

    He started 14th, so gained two places and surprisingly that earned him the driver of the day award.

  8. 'The pace was mega' - Piastripublished at 07:53 British Summer Time 6 April

    McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished where he started in third, he said: "I think the pace today was really, really good and I was very happy with that. I got close a few times and tried to then challenge but the track position around here is so important.

    "Yesterday was where we effectively won the race and we didn’t do a good enough job so I will take the podium. There are still a lot of positives to take out of this weekend and the pace was mega, next time I just need to make sure I’m in a better position to use it.”

    On pitting first out of the top three: "I think for me it was just more trying to cover the guys behind, I was starting to struggle with the mediums and I was in the window to take a pit-stop anyway so that was the thinking there. It was a good strategy and we were kind of a bit in no man’s land."

    On potentially swapping with Lando Norris: "I had really strong pace and felt like if I had the track position I could go and get Max [Verstappen] but that’s what happens when you qualify behind unfortunately.

    "I at least asked the question and that was a fair response, it was a good race and that’s how we want to go racing."

  9. 'We're fighting for a win every weekend' - Norrispublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 6 April

    Lando Norris driving his McLarenImage source, Getty Images

    Lando Norris who finished second at the Japanese Grand Prix: "Yeah I guess we lost out yesterday. Max drove a great race, no mistakes and the pace was too similar today to do anything more. It was a long race, a lot of pushing, flat out race from start to finish, it was tough but not enough today. There was nothing special we had, that we could get Max on. They were quick and no mistakes as I said, he deserved it.

    On the pit lane exit: "It's racing, he was ahead, it kind of squeezed into one and Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space, in a good way, in a racing way. Nothing more than that."

    On a positive weekend: "Yeah it has been a very good weekend, obviously didn't get the positions that we wanted. We're fighting for a win every weekend. Both Red Bull and Max deserved it this weekend, they've been catching up, they've obviously been making improvements. As a team we did not have enough this weekend so we will have to work harder for the next one."

  10. 'The car was in its best form' - Verstappenpublished at 07:46 British Summer Time 6 April

    Max VerstappenImage source, Getty Images

    Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins his fourth Japanese Grand Prix in a row, he said: "It was tough, just pushing very hard especially on the last set, the two McLarens were pushing very hard.

    "It was a lot of fun out there, not easy to manage the tyres but I’m incredibly happy. It started off quite tough but we didn’t give up and we kept improving the car and today it was in its best form. Starting on pole that really made it possible to win this race.

    "It’s important to execute, always try and maximise your performance and I think we did that very well this weekend.”

    On Suzuka: "This place means a lot to me and it was in the back of mind in the last few laps to try and stay ahead because it would be a great story and a kind of final farewell with Honda here in Japan.

    "I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved across all those years together and this is a perfect send-off."

  11. 'That's quite an expensive lawnmower!'published at 07:43 British Summer Time 6 April

    Always fun watching the cooldown room as the top three drivers watch the highlights of the race.

    There were not many to be fair but the big moment was when Lando Norris ended up in the grass coming out the pit lane trying to get the jump on Max Verstappen.

    "That's quite an expensive lawnmower," jokes the Red Bull driver.

  12. Drivers' standingspublished at 07:42 British Summer Time 6 April

    .

    With this win Max Verstappen moves to within a point of Lando Norris in the drivers' standings.

  13. Postpublished at 07:38 British Summer Time 6 April

    Jennie Gow
    F1 pit-lane reporter

    Max Verstappen just went out there and controlled that race, he was a class act out there today.

  14. Postpublished at 07:34 British Summer Time 6 April

    Max Verstappen is savouring this win - one he had to fight for all weekend. He leaps out of his car and jumps into the celebrating Red Bull crew.

  15. Postpublished at 07:32 British Summer Time 6 April

    Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was perfection from Max Verstappen as he said, he hasn't got the fastest car underneath him and we didn't expect him to win this race.

  16. The restpublished at 07:31 British Summer Time 6 April

    11) Alonso

    12) Tsunoda

    13) Gasly

    14) Sainz

    15) Doohan

    16) Hulkenberg

    17) Lawson

    18) Ocon

    19) Bortoleto

    20) Stroll

  17. Top 10published at 07:30 British Summer Time 6 April

    1) Verstappen

    2) Norris

    3) Piastri

    4) Leclerc

    5) Russell

    6) Antonelli

    7) Hamilton

    8) Hadjar

    9) Albon

    10) Bearman

  18. Postpublished at 07:29 British Summer Time 6 April

    That's three different winners of the three grands prix so far this season.

    In addition, all 20 drivers finished the race and that means Fernando Alonso is classified for the first time this season.

  19. Postpublished at 07:28 British Summer Time 6 April

    A very controlled drive throughout by defending champion Max Verstappen.

    No-one at Red Bull will have expected this on Friday but a superb qualifying display by Verstappen put him in the driving seat and McLaren had no answer.

    Lando Norris crosses the line in second with Oscar Piastri third.

  20. chequered flag

    Chequered flagpublished at 07:26 British Summer Time 6 April

    Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix for the fourth time in a row!