Last weekend, with the Max Verstappen's dominance, everything seems to have returned to "normal". The Dutch champion, as always, monopolizes this week's statistics, but a lot of space is also reserved for McLaren, which with Norris and Piastri obtained a double podium unexpected at the beginning of the season. Let's discover, therefore, the statistics more curious and interesting than Japanese GP.
Red Bull: Positive statistics return in the Japanese GP
- Verstappen took pole by a margin of 0.581s over Piastri. It was the largest margin at Suzuka since 2003, when Rubens Barrichello set a time 0.699s faster than Juan Pablo Montoya.
- For the 13th time in a row, Verstappen converted his pole into victory. Michael Schumacher's record broken, now stuck at 12.
- After his 13th win of the season, Verstappen equals Michael Schumacher (2002) and Sebastian Vettel (2013) for the second most wins in a season. The all-time record? Max Verstappen with 15 in 2022.
- Furthermore, it was Verstappen's 28th victory since the beginning of 2022. Considering exclusively the two-year period 2022-23, the Dutchman would place ninth in the all-time victories ranking.
- With 35, Verstappen is now in second place for the highest number of GPs concluded consecutively, behind Lewis Hamilton (48 between Silverstone 2018 and Bahrain 2020).
- Verstappen's fastest lap was 1.064s faster than anyone else.
- Perez's retirement was Red Bull's first in 2023.
McLaren: Norris and Piastri higher and higher
- Piastri is the fifth Australian to qualify on the front row (after Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo) and the first rookie to do so since 2017, when Lance Stroll started second in Monza.
- With Norris' third place in qualifying, McLaren put both its cars in the top 3 at Suzuka for the first time since 2011 (Button P2, Hamilton P3).
- For the fifth time this year, Norris started in the top three.
- With his fourth podium of the season, Norris equaled 2021 as the year with the most podiums in his career.
- Norris now has 10 podiums without any wins. The "record" belongs to Nick Heidfeld with 13 podiums and 0 victories.
- Furthermore, Norris is now the driver with the most points ever without a victory: 543, overtaking Nico Hulkenberg, stuck at 530.
- Piastri became the fifth rider to score a first career podium at Suzuka after Roberto Moreno (1990), Aguri Suzuki (1990), Mika Hakkinen (1993) and Kamui Kobayashi. Of these, only Hakkinen went on to achieve other podiums (and two world championships).
- Piastri is the sixth Australian ever to achieve a podium after Jack Brabham, Tim Schenken, Alan Jones, Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo.
- Piastri is the first rookie to reach the podium since Stroll in Baku in 2017.
Ferrari: Ch4rles Leclerc
- Leclerc has finished the last 3 consecutive races in fourth position.
Mercedes: fluctuating statistics at the Japanese GP
- Hamilton, seventh in qualifying, recorded his worst result at Suzuka since 2012 (when he started ninth), while Russell (eighth) replicated last year's result.
- By finishing in fifth place, Hamilton continues the trend of consistently finishing in the top 5 at Suzuka every time he reaches the finish line.
Alpine: consistency returns
- For the second year in a row, both drivers scored in the points at Suzuka.
Alpha Tauri: steps forward
- Tsunoda entered Q3 for the first time since the Monaco GP, 10 races ago. This is the longest wait of any driver on the grid.
- With Lawson eleventh, the Japanese GP was the first Grand Prix of 2023 in which both AlphaTauris started in the top 11.
Williams: Albon tries, but it's not enough
- Qualifying in P13, Albon achieved the best Suzuka qualifying result for Williams since Felipe Massa's eighth place in 2017.
- The team suffered its first double withdrawal since Singapore 2022.
Alfa Romeo: The Japanese GP brings negative statistics for Bottas
- Bottas was eliminated in Q1 at Suzuka for the first time in his career.
Haas: relegated to the back
- For the second time in the last three races after Monza, the two Haas were the last two cars classified.
