Max Verstappen dominates Japan’s Grand Prix. In a predominantly unspectacular Formula 1 race, only one scene causes excitement. After a hectic pituitary duel, the world champion and opponent of Lando Norris are born.
No rain, no overtaking maneuvers, little action. Japan’s Grand Prix was not exactly a guard on Sunday morning. But a scene triggered discussions.
After around a third of the race in Suzuka, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris went to a pit stop for the first tire change.
The world champion needed a little more time than Norris. When it comes to the exit from the pit lane, it became tight, very narrow.
The McLaren pilot had to dodge on the lawn to prevent touch. His papaya racer wobbled and hopped.
Verstappen defends a duel campaign at the pituitary exit
“He pushed me off. He saw me next to him. I was loosely next to him,” Norris scolded the action.
Unsurprisingly, Verstappen estimated the situation somewhat differently: “He drove into the grass himself. In addition, he pressed the Speedlimiter too early,” the Dutch spotted and defended his approach.
The racing commissioners of the FIA followed the assessment of Verstappen and refrained from punishment.
The only explosive action of the race remained. In front, Verstappen drove confidently for the first win of the season. Norris also had to look into the rearview mirror because garage neighbor Oscar Piatri put a lot of pressure. The World Cup leader had to be satisfied with second place.
“Max is the last to get space from which I expect, but in a good way, a racing driver type,” said the Englishman about the hard duel after the first stop.
The 25-year-old leads the classification with only one point ahead of Verstappen, who had completely changed the coordination of his Forme-1 car over the weekend.