What happened at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix? Red Bull took first and second place with drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.
The 2024 Japanese Grand Prix also saw Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. take the stage, winning third place. The Japanese GP held at Suzuka International Racing Course had an eventful start with a crash between Daniel Ricciardo and Alexander Albon that resulted in a red flag, halting the race for barrier repairs. A gearbox issue forced Zhou Guanyu of Sauber to retire early. Leclerc, on a one-stop strategy, finished behind Sainz due to the effective strategy and pace of the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers. Meanwhile, Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell faced challenges with tire degradation. The race also saw some late action as Russell overtook Oscar Piastri of McLaren in the final laps to secure seventh place.
Additionally, Max Verstappen secured a pole position in qualifying, with Sergio Pérez close behind, making it a front-row lockout for Red Bull Racing. Lando Norris of McLaren qualified third, showing competitive performance for the team. Read the full details of Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin at the Japanese GP below.
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Check out the: 2024 Australian Grand Prix
Japanese Grand Prix 2024 Results
- Red Bull – Max Verstappen
- Red Bull – Sergio Pérez
- Ferrari – Carlos Sainz Jr.
- Ferrari – Charles Leclerc
- McLaren – Lando Norris
- Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso
- Mercedes – George Russell
- McLaren – Oscar Piastri
- Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton
- RB – Yuki Tsunoda
- Haas – Nico Hülkenberg
- Aston Martin – Lance Stroll
- Haas – Kevin Magnussen
- Kick Sauber – Valtteri Bottas
- Alpine – Esteban Ocon
- Alpine – Pierre Gasly
- Williams – Logan Sargeant
- Kick Sauber – Zhou Guanyu
- RB – Daniel Ricciardo
- Williams – Alex Albon
More about the: 2024 Formula 1 teams
2024 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights
Ferrari F1
Starting the race in a strong position, Carlos fourth and Charles eighth on the grid, both on Medium tires, their campaign was momentarily paused due to an early race red flag due to an accident involving Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon, which required a 30-minute break to repair barriers at turn 3.
Upon the race restart, Ferrari opted for new Medium tires for both drivers. This strategic choice paid off immediately for Leclerc, who overtook Lewis Hamilton for seventh, while Sainz maintained his fourth position. The subsequent laps saw a flurry of pit stops from their competitors, elevating Sainz to third and Leclerc to second by lap 17, after Verstappen’s pit stop.
The middle stages of the race showcased Ferrari’s strategic flexibility. Carlos’s pit stop on lap 16 for used Medium tires and Charles’s switch to Hard tires on lap 27 were critical moments. These choices demonstrated the team’s adaptability and long-term planning, as Leclerc rejoined in sixth and Carlos eventually worked his way up to third.
In the closing stages, Sainz’s relentless pursuit saw him overtaking competitors, including his teammate, to secure the third spot on the podium. Leclerc awarded the “Driver of the Day,” showcased his skill and strategic acumen, climbing from eighth to fourth by the race end.
McLaren F1
After the dramatic collision between Albon and Ricciardo, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri held their positions, becoming the first in the lead group to switch to Hard tires on consecutive laps.
Lando’s strategic prowess was on display as he overtook Hamilton for P4, thanks to fresher tires. His momentum didn’t stop there; within two laps, he had surpassed both Mercedes drivers, moving up to P3. However, Perez managed to overtake Norris, leveraging a fresher set of Hard tires.
A key moment came when Norris and Leclerc pitted together. Norris returned behind Russell but reclaimed his position in a swift move at Turn 1. Despite a valiant effort, Norris eventually fell to P5 after Sainz passed him, with Piastri finishing in P8, unable to hold off Russell in the final lap.
Everything you need to know about the: 2024 F1 season
Aston Martin F1
Fernando Alonso demonstrated his skill by finishing in P6, while Lance Stroll concluded the race in P12.
The drivers adopted different strategies for the challenging Suzuka Circuit. Stroll, starting from P16 on Medium tires, executed a dynamic three-stop strategy. After the race was momentarily halted due to a red flag on the opening lap, he switched to Soft tires upon restart, later transitioning through Mediums to Hards, and finally back to Soft tires for the race’s conclusion.
Alonso, beginning the race in fifth position and opting for Soft tires, managed a two-stop strategy. He restarted on Soft tires, shifted to Mediums, and then to the Hard compound, maintaining this choice till the race ended.
Stroll’s race was marked by a series of assertive overtakes, allowing him to climb several positions to finish P12. In the tense final stages, Alonso adeptly navigated through the competitive field, including a notable defense against George Russell and Oscar Piastri, to secure eight valuable points for the team.
What’s next? 2024 Formula 1 Schedule
| Date | Grand Prix | Venue |
| April 19-21 | China | Shanghai |
| May 3-5 | Miami | Miami |
| May 17-19 | Emilia Romagna | Imola |
| May 24-26 | Monaco | Monaco |
| June 7-9 | Canada | Montreal |
| June 21-23 | Spain | Barcelona |
| June 28-30 | Austria | Spielberg |
| July 5-7 | United Kingdom | Silverstone |
| July 19-21 | Hungary | Budapest |
| July 26-28 | Belgium | Spa |
| August 23-25 | Netherlands | Zandvoort |
| August 30 – September 1 | Italy | Monza |
| September 13-15 | Azerbaijan | Baku |
| September 20-22 | Singapore | Singapure |
| October 18-20 | USA | Austin |
| October 25-27 | Mexico | México City |
| November 1-3 | Brazil | Sao Paulo |
| November 21-23 | Las Vegas | Las Vegas |
| November 29 – December 1 | Qatar | Lusail |
| December 6-8 | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina |
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