F1 Takeaways: Back to business for Verstappen at Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen returned with a vengeance to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

After his record 10-race winning streak came to an end last week in Singapore, Verstappen cruised to victory at the Suzuka circuit with a roughly 19.4-second advantage over runner-up Lando Norris.

Oscar Piastri finished third for his first career podium and a double podium finish for McLaren.

Here's what you need to know from the Japanese GP.

BACK TO BUSINESS FOR VERSTAPPEN

It was business as usual for Verstappen in Japan.

While Red Bull whiffed on their setup and missed the podium in Singapore, they came roaring out of the gate and nailed it this time. Verstappen dominated the weekend securing pole position during qualifying by more than half a second and then blazed a trail to the checkered flag. Only the opening lap duel with the McLarens provided any challenge and scoring the fastest lap bonus point was a cherry on top.

It was the 48th career victory for Verstappen and 13th this season as a third consecutive world championship is now in reach. (Although some may say he's had a hand on the trophy since the start of the season, but I digress.)

Verstappen can clinch the title in two weeks' time in Qatar and not even in the actual Grand Prix as the sprint race alone offers enough points to get the job done.

Sidenote: How cool was Verstappen's kiss-activated trophy? The trophy for the Japanese GP actually contained a touch-sensitive micro switch that activated lights programmed to display the colours of the winning driver's flag.

PEREZ'S PITFALL

No surprise Red Bull secured a second consecutive constructors' championship, and sixth overall, but what was surprising is they managed to pull it off in Japan despite Sergio Perez's poor performance.

Perez ran into another driver for the second week in a row, this time tangling with Kevin Magnussen of Haas. After seemingly dropping out of the race, Perez returned in order to serve his penalty before retiring the car for good. It may seem bizarre, but Perez and Red Bull did so to ensure the penalty wouldn't carry over to Qatar where it could be costly — better to get it out of the way now when it's a moot point on the result.

Perez did get some points, penalty points that is, for overtaking under safety car conditions and causing the aforementioned collision.

Although it's Red Bull's first DNF of the season, it doesn't bode well following Perez's collision with Alex Albon in Singapore. Perez might still be second in the championship, but Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes is closing in now just 33 points back.

And in case you're wondering how a team celebrates their sixth constructors' championship ... here's "Wonderwall."

MCLAREN MAKING NOISE

What a fantastic weekend for McLaren as they earned their first double podium since Daniel Ricciardo and Norris finished 1-2 at the Italian Grand Prix in September 2021.

The rookie Piastri, who was recently awarded a contract extension, should be pleased with his best-ever result in F1 as he also surpassed Aston Martin's Lance Stroll for ninth place in the championship.

Norris matched his career best by finishing second again although he's now first on another list: most points by an F1 driver without a win. That time will surely come for Norris (543 points in 98 starts) as he came close last week when Red Bull faltered.

McLaren are still stuck in fifth place in the constructors' championship but are eating away at the gap to Aston Martin. Forty-nine points separate the two teams, which sounds like a lot but can be erased with six races remaining on the schedule. Fernando Alonso can't fend McLaren off by himself and Stroll, who retired due to a loose rear wing, has been held pointless since the summer break.

MERCEDES MISFIRE

With team boss Toto Wolff away, things didn't go as smoothly for Mercedes. George Russell was on a one-pit-stop strategy that had others like Norris worried ... until it all fell apart at the end.

Russell had already lost fourth place to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc when he swapped places with Hamilton, who was feeling the heat from the other prancing horse driven by Carlos Sainz. Mercedes tried to pull a Sainz manoeuvre from last week and keep Hamilton only one second ahead so Russell could activate DRS where applicable. You can't out-Sainz Sainz though and he had a chuckle as he watched it unfold. Sainz managed to pass Russell regardless and finish in sixth place.

Looking at the big picture, Mercedes was able to at least keep one of their cars ahead of Sainz and they're lucky Hamilton and Russell didn't take each other out when they went wheel-to-wheel and went off the track.

SARGEANT ON THE HOT SEAT

The field for the 2024 season is almost locked in with just one seat left to determine: the one currently occupied by Logan Sargeant at Williams. The American rookie has yet to score a single point with his best result coming at Silverstone where he finished 11th.

Sargeant didn't help his case this weekend as he wrecked during qualify and collided with Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas during the race leading to his third retirement of the season.

Williams could give Sargeant a second chance with a sophomore season, but he's going to have to avoid crashing out and racking up the repair bills.

It also comes the weekend after AlphaTauri announced Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda as their driver lineup for 2024. That leaves fellow rookie Liam Lawson, currently filling in for Ricciardo, without a full-time ride at the moment. Lawson finished just outside of the points in 11th in Japan but crossed the line one spot ahead of teammate Tsunoda. The pressure is on Sargeant with other worthy candidates out there.