Majestic Max has Bulls back in charge

MAX VERSTAPPEN’S race engineer called it perfection as he congratulated the Red Bull driver on his Suzuka victory.

- By Daniel Moxon

He was not wrong – the world champion did not place a wheel wrong in either qualifying or the race and his reward was a first grand prix win since Qatar on December 1 last year.

It was his fourth successive triumph at the Japanese Grand Prix and the perfect way to pay tribute to engine suppliers Honda at their home race in the final year of their Red Bull partnership.

The victory also puts Verstappen one point behind championship leader Lando Norris, who finished second ahead of his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

Are Verstappen and Red Bull now title contenders after their sluggish start? Norris insists he never counted the Dutchman out.