Sunday Debrief: Red Bull become 2023 constructors champions in Suzuka
- mallikarull
- Sep 24, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 11, 2023
Verstappen secures victory and the constructors championship for team at the home of their Honda partners and McLaren are back in P2 and P3 with their rookie on the podium.
image: motorsport.com
Verstappen made recovery over the weekend after a disappointing Singapore GP for Red Bull in Verstappen, as he claimed pole position in a dominate weekend. McLaren continuing to impress fans as both McLarens qualified behind Verstappen, Piastri starting from the front row in P2 for his first race in Suzuka. Liam Lawson was another driver who impressed fans in his first qualifying session in Suzuka, Lawson qualifying in P11.
Logan Sargeant started the race from the pitlane with a 10 second time penalty after he failed to set a time in qualifying. The Williams driver going into barriers in the final corner, bringing out the red flag in Q1 with Sargeant unable to continue with damage to his Williams.
Going into turn 1 Verstappen did well to defend of the McLarens, Norris making a move on his teammate as he goes wheel to wheel with Verstappen, ultimately it was Verstappen who stayed ahead with a better racing line.
image: motorsport.com
The safety car was brought out at the end of Lap 1 to clear debris on the track. The debris coming of the Alpha Romeo of Valtteri Bottas, who was carrying damage to his front wing and a puncture as he limped his car back into the pits. Perez was another to pit with front wing damage, after the Red bull made contact with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton at the start. The safety car came in at the end of Lap 1, with cars now free to race.
At the restart, Verstappen did well to keep a gap between himself and the McLarens, meanwhile a few places back George Russell made a move on his teammate and getting ahead in the final corners, before Hamitlon took the place back coming down the straight.
image: motorsport.com
Bottas now running in the back after a pit stop due to front wing damage, the Alpha Romeo seeming unfit to driver. Bottas was forced to retire from the race, coming in on lap 9. Logan Sargeant was the first to take a 5-second penalty from causing a collision, followed by Sergio Perez who was handed a penalty for a safety car infringement.
Alonso came into the pits on lap 12, after being under pressure from Lewis Hamilton behind him, Alonso switching from the soft tyres to the hards. Later in the same lap, Perez made contact with Magnussen, which ended up with the Haas facing the wrong way. Perez picking up front wing damage, coming back into the pits for another new front wing this race. The virtual safety car was brought out on Lap 14 to clear some debris on track, the VSC ending the same lap. Perez also being hit with a 5-second penalty for causing a collision, the penalty playing no effect after Perez retired from the race on Lap 16. Perez came back out to the track later in the race on lap 40 to serve his penalty, retiring to the puts on lap 41, Red Bull not wanting to carry that penalty into Qatar.
The race leader and reigning world champion, Max Verstappen came into the pits on Lap 17, giving the lead to Norris temporarily as Verstappen comes out in P5. Lewis Hamilton also left the battle with his teammate to come into the pits, for a set of Hard compound tyres, Hamilton rejoint the track in P10.
Stroll became the third retirement of the race on Lap 22, after mechanics noticed damage to the back of his Aston Martin. The Aston Martin mechanics not happy with the back, bringing Stroll out of the race. The two Williams became the next cars to retire, with Albon retiring on lap 27 and Sargeant retiring a few laps before.
In the final laps, Russell was given the team orders to let Hamilton pass to hunt down Leclerc. The order proving to be a mistake as the door was left wide open for Sainz to get pass Russell for P6 and Hamilton unable to catch Leclerc.
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