Verstappen wins the Japanese GP 2024

The 2024 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix began with an incident in the first lap between Ricciardo and Albon, leading to a red flag stoppage. The race resumed with a standing grid at 14:35 local time and continued without further issues.

In lap 8, the Kick Sauber and Tsunoda teams made pit stops to switch to hard tires. In lap 10, Leclerc tried to move up on Piastri for the sixth position. The pit stops continued with Norris switching to hard tires and Zhou experiencing a longer than usual stop. Piastri and Stroll also opted for hard tires.

Russell and Hamilton switched positions by team decision, while Norris set the fastest lap and Zhou retired due to technical issues. Pérez and Sainz made their pit stops followed by race leader Max Verstappen. By lap 19, the top five were Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, Pérez, and Russell, with Verstappen regaining the lead in lap 21.

Russell and Hamilton repeated the use of hard tires in laps 23 and 24, respectively, with Russell achieving the fastest lap shortly after. A mistake by Leclerc in lap 26 allowed Pérez to move up to second place. Halfway through the race, the top five were Verstappen, Pérez, Sainz, Alonso, and Piastri.

Piastri made his final pit stop in lap 33, with Pérez and Alonso following suit in lap 34. Max entered the pits in lap 35, temporarily leaving Sainz as the race leader until his stop in lap 37. Pérez set a fast lap surpassing Leclerc.

In the final laps, Verstappen maintained the lead, followed by Pérez and Leclerc. Sainz overtook the two Mercedes and then Norris. Hamilton made a pit stop in lap 40. Sainz continued his progress, overtaking Norris and Leclerc, also setting a fast lap. The battle for seventh place was intense between Piastri and Russel, with the latter taking the lead in lap 53.

In the end, Max Verstappen finished first, followed by Pérez and Sainz. Completing the top ten were Leclerc, Norris, Alonso, Russel, Hamilton, Tsunoda, and Stroll, with the rest of the drivers finishing in the order Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon, Gasly, Sargent, Zhou, and Ricciardo.