A Suzuka, at Honda's home, Red Bull takes home their sixth world title thanks to the solo victory of Max Verstappen returned to the podium even happier after a week of fasting. Max is not alone on the podium but celebrates with the McLaren duo, the second undisputed force. Thus came Oscar Piastri's first podium in his debut season in Formula 1, demonstrating that he had made the right choice for his career by rejecting Alpine for McLaren. The performances of the two were also good Ferrari which made the difference on Mercedes, which was struggling with strategies in the fight for the role of third force. Alpine is also back in the points after the crisis of the previous events. As always, there was no shortage of twists and turns in Suzuka. Especially in the retirements generated in part by the initial confusion of the first laps. So let's see the tops and flops of the Japanese GP at Fanta F1!
THE TOP
Let's start our examination of the tops and flops of the Japanese GP with the best three of the weekend.
Oscar Piastri: We cannot fail to congratulate Oscar finally on the podium - official and not for the Sprint - after a series of races in which he had come really close. A perfect weekend for the Australian even if it ended behind his teammate. Compared to McLaren at the beginning of the season we are clearly ahead. The team is growing and the Norris-Piastri duo is destined to become one of the strongest if the car is there. However, McLaren managed to preserve its qualifying advantage, bringing both drivers into the top 3, without getting too lost in strategies.
Land Norris: Super weekend also for Norris, elected best sky pilot of the weekend. He takes advantage of his fresher tire making it work better and forcing the team to make a switch with Piastri which gives him second place. 4 podiums achieved this season for Lando. Almost half of his career.
Charles Leclerc: He didn't get on the podium but Charles Leclerc tried until the end. The yellows didn't work but on a hostile track like Suzuka, Ferrari still earned the role of third force. He finally takes personal satisfaction by imposing himself on his partner for the entire weekend. In short, a good injection of confidence, which combined with a nice haul of points at Fanta F1 never hurts.
THE FLOP
We continue the tops and flops of the Japanese GP with the flops of the weekend.
Sergio Perez: It was supposed to be a general holiday weekend in Japan for Red Bull. Looking at Perez's situation, it can be said that the constructors' title for Red Bull came almost exclusively thanks to Verstappen. He forces the team to change the front wing twice. He then retires but at the same time the 5 second penalty arrives to be served. So he is forced to return to the track in the general confusion. Once the penalty has been served, he will definitively retire. Perez's season, leaving aside some highlights, can be defined as an almost complete failure. Here, where Red Bull could have easily finished with a double, the support of the Mexican was lacking and he now has fewer and fewer excuses to come up with to defend his seat from those who are doing well in the junior team, namely Ricciardo/Lawson.
Logan Sargeant: Speaking of disappointments, we can't help but include Logan Sargeant in this list. In comparison Lawson, despite having just completed his fourth career GP, seems like an experienced rider. In qualifying the heavy accident forces the team to work which will cost them not only the start from Pit Lane but also a 10 second penalty. Another one will be added to this for a contact with Bottas during the race, and then he will end on a high note with his retirement. He too risks never seeing the Circus again in his first year of debut, like De Vries.
Valtteri Bottas: Total disaster for Bottas who could have fought for the points seeing Zhou's performance. He launches himself into a suicidal mission at the start, taking poor Alexander Albon to the hilt but then Karma repays him by serving him the same medicine from the Thai's partner, Sargeant. The inevitable retirement weighs heavily, also considering that he is the second in a row for the good Valtteri.
