Max Verstappen won from pole position ahead of Sergio Pérez and Carlos Sainz. Yuki Tsunoda successfully scored at home.
Track temperatures have risen to 40 degrees, reaching their peak during the three days of racing at Suzuka. Having completed the ceremony, the racers returned to the car and got ready for the race. Drivers of Williams, Aston Martin, Alpine as well as Hülkenberg and Bottas started with Soft tires, and Medium tires were the choice for the remaining drivers.
Verstappen led the race ahead of Pérez and exited the first corner. At the back, Ricciardo and Albon had a collision and both were thrown straight into the barrier outside the second corner. The race had to be stopped after that.
Hülkenberg and Bottas overtook the two RBs before the first corner, and the restart standings will not change as the riders completed sector 1 before the red flag was raised.
After more than 20 minutes of repairing the fence, the riders returned to the car again. Sainz switched to a new set of Medium tires. Hamilton and Russell decided to start with Hard tires. Tsunoda replaced the set of Soft tires. And Ocon with Gasly at the rear also switched to Hard tires.
Verstappen once again exited the first corner. Leclerc easily overtook Hamilton. Tsunoda reclaimed position with a good starting situation, from 12th position to 9th position. The two Alpines had a slight collision with each other at the rear.
The two Red Bull drivers quickly pulled away from Norris, but with Pérez constantly making mistakes, Norris was still temporarily able to follow car number 11. The drivers with Soft tires started to pit, Bottas and Tsunoda respectively. .
McLaren gradually struggled as both Sainz and Leclerc caught up with Norris and Piastri.
In round 12, they had to make a decision after both drivers lost too much time. Norris and Piastri returned to 10th and 12th respectively after switching to Hard tires. At the back, Zhou entered the pits and had to finish the race with gearbox problems.
Alonso entered the pits and returned between the two McLarens. The top leader also started the first pit stop, leaving Leclerc leading the race with a different strategy.
Lap 21, Verstappen with DRS and tire advantage, took the lead of the race at the first corner. Sainz finished passing both Mercerdes riders. The “Silver Arrow” became increasingly flat and had to have its tires replaced later.
In the lower group competition, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Bottas, Sargeant and Stroll all pitted together, with Tsunoda leaving the earliest in 11th place.
Lap 27, Leclerc and Norris pitted, they returned with Russell slotting in between just before the first corner. The McLaren driver’s race did not go as expected.
The top group continued the second pit with Piastri in the 33rd lap, and then Pérez, Alonso with Verstappen and Sainz respectively.
Lap 39, Tsunoda returned to the top 10 after Hülkenberg pitted. The two Mercerdes drivers also switched to Medium tires, with Russell leading Hamilton in 8th place.
Alonso was under pressure in the closing stages with Piastri following in 7th place. Sargeant locked his wheels, headed out onto the gravel at Degner 2, corner 9, and fell behind the pack. Norris’s chance to enter the top 3 disappeared after making an error, paving the way for Sainz to move up to 4th place. Behind, Russell also gradually kept up with the fight for 6th place.
Round 46, Sainz rose to 3rd place while Ferrari needed Leclerc to defend his position against Norris. Pressure from Russell with the tire advantage, Alonso continuously ‘supported’ Piastri with DRS to be able to defend. Tsunoda at the rear firmly holds 10th place with a gap of up to 8 seconds compared to Magnussen in 11th place.
Russell attacked at the 16th corner, forcing Piastri to cut straight across the track.
Lap 53, Russell returned to DRS on the main straight, starting the final lap. Thereby, the Mercedes racer took over his opponent’s position.
Behind, Verstappen crossed the finish line, winning the 2024 Japanese GP, and with Pérez second, a 1-2 victory for Red Bull on Honda’s “home ground”. Sainz took the next podium, ahead of Leclerc and Norris. Alonso defended 6th place against Russell, Piastri, Hamilton and Tsunoda, successfully scoring points on home soil.
With the main race over, the stewards had time to review the situation in the first round, and no penalties were given. Similar to the situation between Russell and Piastri in the final round.
It’s been 5 years since F1 last came to Shanghai. And this time the teams only have one practice session as this is also the first Sprint of the 2024 season. But the teams also have a “free” week to research strategies for the next round.
Watch the Formula 1 Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix taking place from April 19-21.
