TOKYO: Defending world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull dominated the Japanese Grand Prix to take his 13th victory of the year and help his team clinch the constructors’ title.
Verstappen overcame McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the first two corners and then motored away into a race of his own.
Norris passed Piastri after he had to back off for Verstappen’s defence and went on to secure second place.
Piastri followed him home in third for his first podium in his debut season.
The McLaren drivers had to pass Mercedes’ George Russell after the final pit stops as the Briton tried a rare one-stop strategy after an early hectic and feisty battle with team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
