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.
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.
'Not much action'published at 08:19 British Summer Time 6 April
08:19 BST 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."
'I was definitely expecting more' - Tsunodapublished at 08:12 British Summer Time 6 April
08:12 BST 6 April
Image 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."
'Verstappen is like Mr Motivator'published at 08:05 British Summer Time 6 April
08:05 BST 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."
'It could have been a different story for Norris'published at 08:01 British Summer Time 6 April
08:01 BST 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.
'The pace was mega' - Piastripublished at 07:53 British Summer Time 6 April
07:53 BST 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."
'We're fighting for a win every weekend' - Norrispublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 6 April
07:50 BST 6 April
Image 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."
'The car was in its best form' - Verstappenpublished at 07:46 British Summer Time 6 April
07:46 BST 6 April
Image 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."
'That's quite an expensive lawnmower!'published at 07:43 British Summer Time 6 April
07:43 BST 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.
Postpublished at 07:28 British Summer Time 6 April
07:28 BST 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.