2023 Japanese Grand Prix

Championship standings

Verstappen leads by 151 points over Pérez. Hamilton is now third, a further 43 back. Red Bull lead the Constructors’ by 308 over Mercedes, with Ferrari a further 24 behind.

Previous race

At Singapore, Sainz took pole and led every lap to win for Ferrari — his first victory since the 2022 British Grand Prix. Norris was second, Hamilton third after Russell crashed out of third place on the final lap. Verstappen and Pérez both failed to make Q3 — Red Bull’s first double Q2 exit since the 2018 Russian Grand Prix — and finished fifth and eighth respectively, ending Verstappen’s record run of ten consecutive wins. Lawson claimed his maiden points in only his third Formula One race.

Between-race developments

The FIA has stated that the reprimands given to Verstappen and Sargeant for impeding incidents in Singapore qualifying should have been grid penalties. The governing body acknowledged the error ahead of this race.

Championship permutations

Red Bull Racing can secure the Constructors’ Championship at Suzuka. They win the title as long as they outscore Mercedes by at least one point, provided Ferrari do not outscore them by more than 24 points.

Entrants

Liam Lawson continues at AlphaTauri in place of Ricciardo.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the C1, C2, and C3 compounds — designated hard, medium, and soft.

Milestones

This is the 48th running of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Practice

Verstappen tops all three sessions: leading Sainz and Norris in FP1; leading Leclerc and Norris in FP2 (the session is red-flagged with two minutes remaining following Gasly’s crash and never resumed); and leading Norris and Piastri in FP3.