F1 lessons from Japan: Verstappen inconsistent, Mercedes gives up, Ferrari chases, Williams crashes

Formula 1 training from Suzuka
Frustrated Verstappen chaser retires after 4 of 24 races

April 8, 2024, 6:10 am

With his third victory in four races, Max Verstappen is on his way to his fourth Formula 1 title. The race is frustrated, Mercedes is flying the white flag. Ferrari is establishing itself as number two, while Williams has a lot of adjustments to make. Lessons learned from the Japan Grand Prix.

Only Verstappen can beat Verstappen

The world champion’s trip to Suzuka once again left the competition wondering, the Red Bull star can once again beat himself. Or stopped by technology, as in Australia. But even before the season’s fifth race in a fortnight in China, the world title looks set to be handed to the Dutchman.

Verstappen, like Michael Schumacher from 2000 to 2002, won the Japanese Grand Prix for the third consecutive year on Sunday and is racing towards his fourth World Cup earlier this season. “It couldn’t have been better,” said Verstappen, but he didn’t want to be congratulated for successfully defending his title: “It’s still a long season and I want to race it. There’s still a hard way for us. .

Mercedes conceded defeat early

Max Verstappen had just lifted the winner’s trophy in the air with a smile when Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff retired from the championship fight after just four races out of 24. “No one will match Max this year. His car is very good and he drives well. very,” said Wolff: “This season is about who will be the best of the rest.”

Two weeks after the defeat in Australia, the 26-year-old Dutchman was back in his league and unhappy with the team’s power struggle and transfer rumours. “Red Bull is very far ahead, then the other teams are coming,” Austria’s Wolff said. The “Guardian” newspaper in England said: “Max Verstappen ensured business as usual with a confident and safe victory from pole at the Japanese Grand Prix.”

Lewis Hamilton’s frustration is growing

His Mercedes farewell tour is still frustrating for the record world champion; for the third time in the fourth race, Hamilton crossed the finish line behind teammate George Russell. Both were canceled in Australia. “I tried, but the result wasn’t good. Unfortunately, that’s where our car is at the moment,” said the 39-year-old, who will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari next year, after finishing ninth. But it’s not his fault that the Silver Arrows are very far from the top: “If we want to move forward in the field, we must look for more car performance.”

Ferrari is “the best of the rest”

Japan has shown that the Scuderia is the second team in the first division behind Red Bull. And Carlos Sainz (third place) is currently driving better than the team’s real number one, Charles Leclerc (fourth place). The fact that the Spaniard needs a new job for next season and therefore has to prove himself seems to encourage him. But even though Ferrari “fully exploited the potential of our package,” as Sainz said, the Reds had no chance of victory. Can Ferrari still keep pace? The 29-year-old didn’t look particularly confident when he said: “Of course we want to go a bit further. If we keep going like this, I’m sure we’ll get more opportunities.”

Once again pure confusion for a traditional team that once produced world champions. Expensive materials are becoming scarcer and the financial situation is dire. In Australia only Alexander Albon was able to drive because of an accident, then Logan Sargeant crashed in the first training session in Japan. And the team accountant was combing his hair. After the first start at Suzuka there was an accident between Albon and Daniel Ricciardo, both crashed into the tire wall. That easily results in a loss of the next million dollars, meaning no money can be put into the development of the car. “You work so hard to improve the car so early in the season and two crashes spoil it all,” team boss James Vowles said.