Max Verstappen has won the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix, holding off both McLaren's of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who finish second and third.
The four-time defending Formula 1 champion, Verstappen started from pole position after setting a course-record time in qualifying, which he called "insane."
Piastri and Norris both pushed Verstappen, who led from start to finish in a relatively dull race featuring limited overtaking.
However, birthday boy Piastri felt he could have chased down the Red Bull driver given McLaren's superior speed, asking his team for the chance to go after the Red Bull driver by being given the position by the team.
"If Lando is still saving, I think he should go soon. I think I have the pace to get Max," he said on the team radio as the laps ran out.
However, McLaren said Norris should hold the position.
"There wasn't much [discussion]," Piastri said.
"I felt like I had really strong pace, if I had track position I could go and get Max, but that's what happens when you qualify behind.
"I at least asked the question and I thought that was a fair response."
That was not the last of Piasti's comments about the team tactics though, the young Aussie making a pointed reference to the muddled decisions being made, particularly around pit stops, given he was the first of the front runners to pit.
"Great question," he said.
"I think for me it was more of trying to cover the guys behind, I was starting to struggle a little bit on the medium.
"That was kinda the thinking there, I'll speak to the team about what their plan was with it."
Verstappen's victory ended his “mini-slump” of only two wins in his previous 16 races.
It was the Dutch driver's fourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit and breaks the momentum of the McLarens of Norris and Piastri, who won the season’s first two races in Melbourne and Shanghai.
The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day.
Norris leads the driver’s standings after three races with 62 points to 61 for Verstappen.
[widget: race standings]ABC/AP
