Max Verstappen returned to winning ways at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 after the race was delayed by almost 30 minutes because of a crash between RB driver Daniel Ricciardo and Williams’ Alex Albon on the first lap.
Reigning champion Verstappen, who beat team-mate Sergio Perez by more than 12 seconds, has now won three of the first four races of the season and is 13 points above Perez at the top of the standings.
Carlos Sainz was third, with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc immediately behind as the second-placed team lost ground.
Spaniard Sainz had triumphed in the previous race in Australia two weeks earlier, when Verstappen was forced to retire because of brakes issues.
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Further back, McLaren’s Lando Norris was fifth – three positions ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso between the pair.
George Russell came seventh and Lewis Hamilton ninth for Mercedes, with home favourite Yuki Tsunoda 10th on a track the Japanese star is extremely familiar with.
Tsunoda secured a second consecutive promising result, having come seventh in Melbourne, and picked up a point for his team, who had contended with Ricciardo’s abrupt race exit.
A closer look at Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon’s lap one contact 🔎 pic.twitter.com/VpkwCB0T7N
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 7, 2024
Japanese Grand Prix crash
In the incident the race will perhaps be most remembered for, Albon was heard telling his pit wall that Ricciardo had “just squeezed me”, giving him “nowhere to go” in a collision which will be investigated by stewards.
Ricciardo appeared to be monitoring Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin to his left as he headed to Turn Three shortly before the incident.
Albon reported he was “okay”, while Ricciardo swiftly left his car to the relief of viewers watching the high-speed crash.
The Thai had started in 14th, while Ricciardo had begun the race in 11th as part of a field chasing a Red Bull’s one-two lockout.
