MOTORSPORT: Piastri breaks through for maiden F1 podium

Max Verstappen bounced back to his winning ways in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka yesterday, with his 13th victory of the season sealing a sixth constructor’s title for Red Bull with six races remaining in the 2023 Formula 1 championship.

But Australian rookie Oscar Piastri was a star of the show, claiming his maiden podium finish in third behind his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Starting from the front row of the grid for the first time in his career, the Victorian was also voted driver of the day, as he moved to ninth in the season standings.

The result capped a big week for the 22-year-old, who has re-signed with McLaren through to 2026.

“I’ll remember it for a very long time. I can’t thank the team enough for giving me this opportunity,” said Piastri.

“There are not many people in the world that get this opportunity in their whole life, and I’ve managed to have it in my first season.

“It wasn’t my best race ever, but it was enough to get a trophy at the end, so I’m super happy.”

For Verstappen, the victory will likely see the Dutchman wrap up his third successive driver’s title in the Saturday sprint at the next event in Qatar.

“It’s an unbelievable weekend,” said Verstappen.

“To win here was great. I think the car was working really well… but of course, the most important was also to win the constructors.

“I’m very proud of everyone working at the track, but also back at the factory.”

From the start, Norris edged into second place ahead of Piastri, who was blocked by Verstappen on the run into the first turn, while behind them Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) tangled, ditto Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) and Alex Albon (Williams), with Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo damaged in the fracas.

With the circuit strewn with debris, the safety car was called before the end of the first lap of 53, with Perez later penalised 5sec for passing cars en route to the pits.

Following the restart, Mercedes teammates Hamilton and George Russell engaged in a spirited battle for seventh, while Bottas’s tough day continued when he was dispatched into the gravel by Logan Sargeant (Williams).

On lap 12, Perez clashed with Kevin Magnussen (Haas) and eventually retired after receiving a second new nose, with the virtual safety car called to clean up the mess, with Piastri one of the few cars that pitted during the interruption.

The Mercedes war continued on lap 16 after Hamilton dropped off the track allowing Russell to close, while by lap 27, Norris breezed by Piastri.

Once the final round of pit stops was complete, Piastri forged past Russell on lap 42 to claim third position, while three circuits later, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) moved into fourth past the Mercedes driver.

At the finish, it was Verstappen by 19sec over Norris, who registered his fifth career second-place finish, then Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Russell, whose lack of late pace resulted in seventh, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), with the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly rounding out the top-ten.

Elsewhere, Liam Lawson continued to impress in 11th, having made a gritty move on AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda stick on the opening circuit.

Earlier in the weekend, Daniel Ricciardo was confirmed as a full-time starter for the squad in 2024, with the Aussie signing on alongside Tsunoda, who carries significant backing from team engine supplier Honda.

Next up on the F1 tour is the Qatar Grand Prix on October 8.

2023 Japanese Grand Prix results:

2023 Formula 1 championship standings:

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au