Until the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, Max Verstappen and Red Bull made a strong comeback after their forced retirement in Melbourne, which was expected. However, the unpredictable tire strategy kept things interesting in Suzuka.
So, who were the winners and losers of the Japanese Grand Prix?
Local hero Tsunoda had a great weekend and was rightly celebrated by fans at the end of the race.
Although Tsunoda had a slow start, RB had nothing to do with scoring points here, as there were five teams that were clearly faster, and all five had both cars finishing the race.
However, Tsunoda’s pitstop issues and the problems faced by Sauber, Valtteri Bottas, and Nico Hulkenberg helped him. Tsunoda also managed his final stint exceptionally well, setting his fastest lap with just two laps remaining on hard tires that had almost 30 laps of use.
Overall, Tsunoda’s performance deserved his first point at home. – Valentin Khorounzhiy
Sergio Perez’s return to the front row for the first time since May last year was not a cause for celebration for Ferrari in qualifying. Currently, the leading teams can only aim for second place, which Verstappen achieved.
However, Ferrari’s smart strategy with both cars allowed Carlos Sainz to jump from fourth to third place and Charles Leclerc from seventh to fourth. This demonstrates the team’s improved approach to racing and their fast car.
Sainz continues to impress after his appendectomy, and Leclerc’s performance was exceptional, completing 25 laps on medium tires early in the race and overtaking both McLarens and Alonso and Hamilton. McLaren’s unnecessary pit stop for Norris also played a role.
With both drivers performing well, Ferrari is now just 21 points behind Red Bull after four races, a goal that seemed unattainable before the start of the season. – Jack Benyon
Red Bull had some concerns about their long-run pace compared to Ferrari before the race, but those concerns were dispelled during the race.
The Ferrari cars would never challenge Verstappen, and even if they had started on the second row, Perez would probably have beaten them. This was expected from Red Bull in Suzuka, and some within the organization may feel that the gap should have been even larger.
After the chaos in Melbourne, this race brought back a sense of normalcy and reaffirmed that Red Bull is on track to win this year’s championships. – VK
The difference in Fernando Alonso’s performance compared to last year is significant. In 2023, he had a deficit of 74.725 seconds to Verstappen, while this year it was reduced to 44.272 seconds.
Although Aston Martin is still probably the fifth fastest car, their speed in qualifying, combined with a solid strategy and Alonso’s effectiveness, allows the team to perform better than expected. Aston is now competing in a way they couldn’t at the end of last year.
Alonso’s performance continues to be impressive, matching the high standard he set last year. – Jack Cozens
McLaren’s strategy didn’t go as planned, as they found themselves making their second stop at the same time as a direct rival who was making their first stop. Something clearly went wrong.
It was expected that Lando Norris could overtake at least one Ferrari, but the early and aggressive pit stop, which briefly underestimated Perez, seemed to hinder the leading McLaren car for the rest of the race.
The McLaren also did not achieve the pace they were expecting. Although they were competitive, it was not enough to meet their expectations.
If this is the best performance they can achieve at the moment, it falls short of what is needed. – VK
Williams was the first team to suffer, with their lead car taken out on the first lap. Even without this incident, it would have been difficult for them to secure points.
Some may criticize Albon’s car position in the incident with Ricciardo, but due to Ricciardo’s slow exit from the corner, Albon had nowhere to go. Ricciardo did not leave enough space or pay enough attention.
Sargeant had a challenging race, making a mistake in the first Degner corner and going off track in the second. Many drivers struggled in these corners, but none as much as Sargeant, especially considering he was on cold tires.
Reversing on the track in this situation seemed dangerous, especially with other drivers on cold or worn tires. Williams also suffered significant damage, which they can barely afford. – JB
Lance Stroll had a challenging race, starting well below where the car should be. While Alonso kept Aston competitive, Stroll was fighting among the slower cars. There was a clear performance hierarchy, and Aston was only able to score minimal points.
Whether Stroll was to blame for missing out on the top ten is debatable, but his late stop for soft tires was surprising and did not work out. It was expected that Stroll would struggle once he qualified where he did. – VK
Mercedes remains positive that they understand their key weaknesses and have gained insights from this weekend. There were also mitigating circumstances for their lackluster performance in Suzuka.
However, sixth and seventh places were the best they could have achieved, even if they had realized earlier that a two-stop strategy was the best option due to severe tire degradation.
This result is far from exceptional and falls short of what a team of Mercedes’ caliber should achieve. They are now competing for fourth place in the constructors’ championship with Aston Martin, a team that is struggling this season. – JC
For Daniel Ricciardo, the weekend started well before ending abruptly in turn 3. He showed improvement compared to his teammate throughout the weekend, but the collision with Alex Albon changed everything.
It was a split-second judgment error by Ricciardo, although it did not deserve a penalty. In the end, he was clearly at fault for the accident, closing off Albon in turn 3 without realizing.
Fortunately, a chassis change was already planned for Shanghai. – VK
The updated A524 showed signs of improvement in qualifying for Alfa Romeo, but in the race, once again proved to be the worst car on the grid.
Overtaking cars with the same strategy was difficult in Suzuka, except for the Alpines, which were clearly struggling. Pierre Gasly had floor damage, presumably from a collision with Esteban Ocon, but even without the damage, Ocon’s pace was not impressive.
Overall, the only positive thing to take from this weekend was Ocon’s performance. However, this reflects more positively on his position in the driver market than on Alpine, as his performance is far from respectable at the moment. – VK
© 2024
A new record was set in the world of sports today, when the Brazilian athlete won the gold medal at the Olympic Games. The historic achievement was reached after an impressive performance by the athlete, who surpassed all his opponents and secured the first place on the podium.
The fierce competition featured athletes from all over the world, but it was the Brazilian who stood out and claimed victory. With his determination and skill, he showed the world the true spirit of sportsmanship and became an example for all young athletes who dream of success.
The Brazilian athlete, known for his dedication and hard work, trained tirelessly to reach this moment. His discipline and commitment to the sport led him to exceed all expectations and achieve victory.
Winning the gold at the Olympic Games is a milestone in the Brazilian athlete’s career, who now enters the history of sports. His determination and talent have made him a true national hero, and his victory is a source of pride for all Brazilians.
With this achievement, the Brazilian athlete proves once again that Brazil is a powerhouse in the world of sports. His victory at the Olympic Games is a symbol of the talent and dedication of Brazilian athletes, who continue to impress the world with their incredible performances.
We congratulate the Brazilian athlete on his achievement and wish him all the success in his sports career. May his victory inspire other athletes to follow their dreams and work hard to achieve success. Brazil is proud of you!
