Formula 1: Verstappens fourth Suzuka prank in front of Norris

Max Verstappen demonstrated his world class in Suzuka and won the Formula 1 race of Japan for the fourth time in a row. That was once not even a record champion Michael Schumacher. Verstappen defended an attack by the unruly World Cup leader Lando Norris in the third Grand Prix of the year in the boxing alley Cool, who had to be satisfied with second place.

The McLaren driver leads the classification with only one point ahead of Verstappen, who celebrated his 64th career victory. On his 24th birthday, Norris’ team -mate Oscar Piatri raced to third place.

In the final phase of the race, the quick Australian had not received a green light from the command stand in order to take the hunt for Verstappen past Norris. The only German driver in the field, Nico Hülkenberg, raced clearly past the points as 16 in the kick.

Verstappen ends its pole thirst

Verstappen had to wait 280 days in his 41st pole position. Since the Grand Prix of Austria at the end of June last year, he has not led the starting line -up. His racing engineer Gianpiero Lambiase described the star pilot’s master’s degree in qualification as “crazy” when Verstappen had put a magic round on the last trigger.

He also confidently defended his fourth pole in Japan in a row. The response time of Norris was shorter (0.24 seconds), but the Dutch (0.29 seconds) changed track in time to prevent overtaking.

Before the eyes of the Japanese princess Akiko of Mikasa and 105,000 fans on the Suzuka Circuit, Norris remained second and Piatri as third on the four -time world champion, who also knows how to conceal the weaknesses of his stubborn Red Bull this season.

The weather conditions were about this third Grand Prix weekend. A damp race Sunday followed on dry days when sparking had still lit on the side strip. But the weather on the route did not cause problems.

After a third of the race, McLaren tried to finish. On the announcement, Norris supposedly came in at the pit stop, but Red Bull did not fall in. There was finally the right tension in the 22nd round when Verstappen and Norris also stopped changing the tire at the same time.

The red bull star made a slower stop, Norris then almost headed out of the pit lane with him. It got tight at the exit. The Englishman then had to dodge on the lawn to avoid a crash. “He pushed me off,” complained Norris about radio. “He drove to the grass by itself,” said Verstappen unmoved. The rule keepers then did not recognize any violation.

Antonelli writes Formula 1 story

Verstappen came back to fifth, Norris right behind him as the sixth. And who led? Mercedes newcomer Kimi Antonelli! At just 18 years and 224 days. No other driver in this position was the younger in Formula 1 history. On the neck, Antonelli had his Mercedes predecessor Lewis Hamilton, 40 years old, who has started for Ferrari since this season.

When Antonelli headed to the box in the 32nd round, the old order was restored. Verstappen took the lead again in front of Norris and Piatri with a head start around 1.5 seconds. Shortly afterwards, the announcement from the Red Bull Box followed: “Stop really gas from now on!” Antonelli finished sixth in the end.

Piatri put Norris under pressure

Verstappen could not be comfortable. But he held his lead over Norris, who had to defend himself more and more violently against Piatri, who in turn finally wanted to be let by his teammate. “I have the speed to grab Max,” the China winner from Australia announced. But there was no go from his box.

The McLaren-internal duel could not matter. He raced undeterred to his first win of the season.