Despite his best efforts to downplay the race pace of his RB20, and aside from some initial excessive tire degradation due to high temperatures early on in the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen was just as dominant as we have become accustomed to seeing from him.
After securing his 57th win in Formula 1, Verstappen reflected on his race in a press release from Red Bull. He stated, “Today was simply delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed the race. We managed to avoid any trouble in the first lap and from there, we focused on taking care of the tires as much as possible. The decisions we made before qualifying were definitely beneficial today, and it feels great to come back and win after Australia.”
“The car continued to improve throughout the race and, although it took a few laps to find a good rhythm due to limited practice on long runs, the car really came alive during the second stint. I was able to push when necessary and effectively manage my tires, so the race went incredibly well,” explained the Dutch driver.
“It was a fantastic team performance throughout the entire weekend, and it’s amazing to secure a one-two finish here, our third of the season. Suzuka is always a thrilling track to race at, and overall, I’m extremely pleased with today’s performance,” Verstappen concluded.
Sergio Perez followed Verstappen in second place, showcasing a dominant display from Red Bull. Team principal Christian Horner commented, “Today was an outstanding team performance; we achieved the fastest lap, a one-two finish, the fastest pit stop, and secured the top two positions in the Championship standings. It’s truly an incredible performance, especially here in Japan, the home of our engine partner, Honda.”
“Max controlled the race beautifully from the start and took excellent care of the tires. However, Checo had a remarkable agenda today. His qualifying session yesterday was exceptional, surpassing his previous personal best. And his race performance was exceptional as well. He made his way through the field and maintained a strong pace.”
“It was a brilliant race from the entire team. We are thrilled with the outcome,” concluded Horner.
Verstappen now leads the 2024 F1 Drivers’ Standings by 13 points, with Perez in second place. In addition, Red Bull Racing currently holds a 21-point advantage over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.