Lando Norris finished third to pick up McLaren’s first podium of the season, while Mercedes endured their first double DNF in five years after George Russell’s late crash, which resulted in Fernando Alonso’s post-race penalty.
With Red Bull’s F1 win-streak broken, Verstappen now only has a four-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship to Leclerc – but will normal service resume this weekend at one of the sport’s most iconic and popular tracks?
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Carlos Sainz keen to ‘speed up’ 2025 talks in Japan – but where should Ferrari driver go next?
Japanese Grand Prix preview
It’s been quite a few months for Carlos Sainz. At the turn of the year, a contract extension at Ferrari seemed a formality. His win in Singapore last September – the only non-Red Bull victory since 2022 – solidified his role at the Scuderia as one half of a strong partnership with Charles Leclerc. In fact, the Spaniard was ready to take the next step and target a championship challenge in the near future.
Cue Lewis Hamilton. Cue appendicitis and a race absence in Saudi Arabia. Downed but undefeated, Sainz’s resilience and skillset came to the fore quite superbly two weeks ago as he overcame all those obstacles in Australia with a terrific victory on the streets of Melbourne, taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s retirement for his third win in F1.
And ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix on the popular Suzuka circuit, the 29-year-old admits that a spot on the grid next year is something he wants sorting as soon as possible. Frankly, he should be a man high in demand.
It was just what Williams didn’t need earlier: Logan Sargeant crashed at Suzuka, while driving the repaired chassis Alex Albon smashed up in Melbourne.
While team boss James Vowles said the chassis survived, the rest of the car has a fair amount of damage so Sargeant will not be taking part in this session.
Williams said: “Due to the extent of damage to Logan Sargeant’s car, he will not participate in FP2. The team will continue repairs in time for tomorrow’s Free Practice session.”
