Max Verstappen took home his first win of the season in a special weekend, one in which the RB21 sported a special look—a red and white livery dedicated to engine partner Honda, marking what will be their final “home” Grand Prix together before parting ways at the end of the season.
A special livery for a special performance, as the Dutchman stepped up and made the difference at exactly the key moments, like on Saturday, when he effectively built the foundation for today’s win. Pole position was in fact the crucial element in maintaining track position on a circuit where that aspect is vital, given the presence of several fast corners and only one DRS zone.
Being able to lead the race and dictate the pace, even though McLaren appeared to have potentially better race pace, while keeping the two MCL39s constantly in dirty air and limiting their chances to close the gap, was the key to success at Suzuka—especially considering that the hard tyre did not show any degradation issues in the final stint.
Only the medium showed some issues toward the end of the first stint, when Max Verstappen tried to respond to Norris and his tyres began overheating, but that was precisely the moment when McLaren called in Oscar Piastri, triggering the pit stop sequence.
The crucial aspect, however, was that Verstappen completed all 53 laps without making a single mistake, without the slightest slip-up. That may seem simple when you’re leading the race, but it becomes far more complicated when two rivals are behind you, ready to pounce as soon as they get within DRS range. That’s exactly when you can’t afford even the smallest error.
“No, only he could have won like that. Incredible—53 laps without mistakes and tactically perfect, as soon as Norris got close to the DRS zone, he pulled out two tenths. Incredible,” said Helmut Marko after the race when asked if any other driver could have won this Grand Prix.
Realistically, McLaren had the faster car today, but being stuck so close behind in a race where tyre degradation was minimal—one of the areas where the RB21 still has room for improvement—didn’t allow them to fully show a pace that may have been a few tenths quicker than what actually emerged.
On the other hand, Red Bull played its cards well on a track that, at least on paper, suited the RB21. However, the usual early weekend issues due to discrepancies between the track and the simulator meant they had started off on the wrong foot. Overnight between Friday and Saturday, using what had already been learned on track, Red Bull managed to find an effective setup direction, and Max Verstappen then added that extra something only champions can provide.
“The car fortunately improved in terms of setup. And Max was incredible: 53 laps without mistakes and absolutely on the limit,” added Marko, who has always been optimistic about Red Bull’s ability to find the key to unlocking the car’s potential—potential the team is certain is there, and has been for the past year, but which is rarely unlocked due to the narrow operating window.
“There are still 21 races left. It’s going to be a tough fight, but we must improve our car, that’s clear.”
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