Max Verstappen continued his dominance of the 2024 Formula One season with an easy win in the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, as Japan's Yuki Tsunoda completed some heroic overtakes to finish 10th and score his first-ever point in his homeland.
Dutchman Verstappen extended his championship lead at the Suzuka International Racing Course by beating home Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez of Mexico, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz backing up from his win in Australia two weeks ago to take third in his Ferrari.
"It was very nice. The critical bit was the start -- to stay ahead. And after that, the car got better and better for me throughout the race," said three-time reigning champion Verstappen, who now leads the drivers' standings by 13 points.
"(The) pit stops went well, strategy went well, couldn't really have gone any better."
Tsunoda was battling at the back of the field early in the race after losing places at the restart caused by a first-lap crash involving his teammate. But a stellar pit stop from his RB team on lap 24 allowed him to jump three places to 14th.
A lap-34 overtake of Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg gave the 23-year-old 10th place, his highest finish at his home grand prix and his second point-scoring outing in succession after his seventh-place in Australia.
"Very special. Even P10, I feel like...I scored P1," said Tsunoda. "Big credit to the team, (they were) able to have a very fast pit stop and allow me to rejoin ahead of the Astons and without that work, I would not have been able to score points today."
"I lost two positions (in the first start), and I was a bit disappointed, but at the same time, I was able to regain those two positions at the restart...I think I did very well there, and after that, the pace was good. (I was) feeling comfortable."
Tsunoda's single point at Suzuka gives him seven in total for the season and leaves him in 11th place in the drivers' championship. He has scored all the RB team's constructor points this season, putting them top of the "best of the rest" standings, three points clear of Haas.
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