The Latest Breaking News from Suzuka

Both McLaren drivers finished on the podium at Suzuka and Losail, while Piastri also took the sprint pole, which he converted into a win at the latter venue.

Kvyat appears likely to participate in the Japanese single-seater’s traditional so-called ‘rookie test’ with Honda squad Nakajima Racing on December 6-8.

The American has shown flashes of pace throughout his first season in F1, but these have been outweighed by mistakes which have mounted up over recent races - with notable crashes at Zandvoort, Singapore, and Suzuka following the summer break.

Pierre Gasly was left angry after the Suzuka race, having been told on the final lap to slow down and let team-mate Esteban Ocon through to take ninth place.

Sargeant has six races left with which to secure his place on the F1 grid, and despite the public show of faith from team principal James Vowles, it’s obvious that he’ll have to improve his performance relative to team-mate Alex Albon while staying clear of trouble.

For the last two years, the FIM Endurance World Championship event has taken place in the first week of August, but a desire to avoid a clash with the Olympic Games in Paris has led to next year's being race being pushed two weeks forward.

As expected, normal service was resumed at Suzuka, with Verstappen scoring his 13th win of the season and clinching Red Bull’s second consecutive constructors’ crown, putting it just one behind Lotus in the all-time list. Nevertheless, there is something to be said for enjoying the performance of a great driver…

Max Verstappen and Red Bull winning Formula 1’s 2023 Japanese Grand Prix by a commanding 19.4-second margin might sound a very familiar tale, but this was coming one week on from their shock defeat in the Singapore race. 

Max Verstappen and Red Bull winning Formula 1’s 2023 Japanese Grand Prix by a commanding 19.4-second margin might sound a very familiar tale, but this was coming one week on from their shock defeat in the Singapore race. 

Leclerc finished fourth in Suzuka after being unable to match the race pace displayed by both McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who locked out the podium places behind Verstappen.

In the wake of Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri finishing behind race winner Max Verstappen at Suzuka, the Briton came on the team radio and said: “Double podium. We are coming for Red Bull.”