Minute-by-minute updates for the 2024 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
Red Bull locked out the front row of the grid in qualifying, with Max Verstappen on pole once again. It will be on the chasing pack to catch the reigning world champions, with McLaren’s Lando Norris starting at the head of that group in third place.
The majority of the F1 paddock sees the Japan race as a place where the true pecking order will be revealed due to Suzuka’s characteristics and demands on the cars.
The Japanese GP starts at 6am BST.
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Leclerc has been advised to not defend too hard against Sainz because he is racing Norris, while Sainz has been told he is on for the podium and therefore free to attack Leclerc. That's basically team orders, right?
At the start of lap 46, Sainz uses DRS to pull alongside Leclerc and dives around the outside to make the move stick into Turn 1. Sainz is up to third.
Up to P13 goes Hulkenberg. It's been a tough race for him after a dreadful restart, as Stroll passes Magnussen around the outside of The Esses for P11.
Russell dives to the inside of Piastri at the chicane and the Australia cuts the corner, and then they both had DRS and came so close to contact into Turn 1.
Verstappen, as expected, winds up his Red Bull and releases it at maximum pace to grab the fastest lap with a 1m33.706s. That's the extra point taken back from Sainz.
Alonso does ease off to give Piastri DRS to defend from Russell. This situation always seems to happen to Russell - last year it was Singapore with Sainz and Norris, now it is with Alonso and Piastri.
Alonso keeps clear of Russell over the final lap to keep sixth, with Piastri taking eighth ahead of Hamilton. Tsunoda completes the points places - a top 10 in his home race for the first time!
Hulkenberg just misses out in 11th ahead of Stroll, Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon, Gasly and Sargeant as the classified finishers. DNFs for Zhou, Ricciardo and Albon.
The Russell vs Piastri incident at the chicane will be investigated after the race - along with the Ricciardo and Albon clash from the opening lap - to keep the stewards busy today.
"I had a good race, so very happy, it was tough out there with the degradation, but then the clouds came and the degradation was lower. Then I had a lot of cars to overtake which is tricky here," Sainz summaries of his race.
"It was a good weekend for the team, with the start and the restart was hard to keep the focus for such a long time. My second start was better but just not enough to get by Max. We paid the price as we were off balance in that first stint which meant we couldn't keep it alive and we had to box and we were undercut by Lando, but then on the hard I was more comfortable so we came back," Perez concludes on his race.
"It was very nice, the critical bit was the start to stay ahead and then the car for me just got better and better during the race, which may have been with the clouds coming in. It couldn't have been any better," Verstappen says on his third win of the season.
The podium trio make their way to the cooldown room for a drink and a chat. Sainz asks Verstappen if they considered a one-stop but he shakes his head, and Perez adds the hard was the strong tyre today.
They then assess the first-lap clash between Albon and Ricciardo, and Verstappen turns into a steward to say it was unfortunate with Ricciardo looking left towards the corner and not seeing Albon behind him. Maxplaining turns into Maxstewarding?
Sainz lets out a sigh as he watches Verstappen cross the line with nobody else in the picture. That's a good summary of the last couple of years in F1 has generally been. Dominant from Red Bull and Verstappen once again.
It is time for the podium, with the very familiar combination of the Dutch and Austrian national anthems playing to mark Verstappen's win for Red Bull.
The trophies are handed out and the podium finishers get busy with the fizzy! That marks the end of the Japanese GP weekend - but in just two weeks we go again with a return to China.
So join us on the 19-21 April for the Chinese GP weekend which also includes the first sprint race of the season. Until then, have a lovely rest of your Sunday. Go well!
