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Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull races during the third practice session of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit. Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
World champion Max Verstappen made the most of his surprise pole position when he ended McLaren's early Formula One season dominance with victory in the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
Verstappen's Red Bull had enough race pace to claim a 64th career victory, a fourth in a row in Suzuka, and first of the season ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the latter turning 24 on the day.
The closest McLaren got was in the pit lane when Verstappen and Norris exited almost side by side after getting fresh rubbers. But the champion was slightly ahead and Norris was forced into the grass.
A few accusations flew back and forth but no action was taken.
Victory was a boost for Verstappen and his team in a season where some had predicted that McLaren would run away with the title, and Norris and Piastri had won the first two races.
The four time reigning champion Verstappen moved within one point of leader Norris in the championship which continues next weekend in Bahrain.
Qualifying the key
"Starting on pole made it possible to win," Verstappen said. "This weekend started off quite tough but we didn't give up, kept improving the car. Today it was on its best form."
McLaren agreed they lost the race on Saturday where Verstappen had beat them by less that five hundredths of a second for pole.
"I guess I just lost out yesterday. Max drove a good race today, no mistakes. The pace was too similar today to do anything more," Norris said.
The pit lane incident
Looking at the pit lane incident, he said: "It’s racing. He was still ahead, and Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space ... in a good way, in a racing way."
Verstappen meanwhile quipped in the direction of Norris when the scene was shown on the screen in the cool down room: "That's quite an expensive lawnmower."
The win also came after Red Bull had been in the spotlight for dumping their second driver Liam Lawson after poor results to sister team Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda going the other way.
Tsunoda finished outside the points in 12th and Lawson 17th.
The race
Verstapped won the start which went without incidents despite some remaining damp patches after earlier rain.
The pit lane incident between Verstappen and Norris provided the biggest drama in a race with little overtaking.
The pit stops swept Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli into the lead, which made the Italian the youngest driver to lead an F1 race at 18 years 224 days. He then also became the youngest driver to claim the fastest lap in a grand prix.
The original order was restored later, and in the closing stages Piastri suggested via team radio he had the pace to attack Verstappen. But the team stopped short of ordering Norris to swap places, and Norris then escaped a late scare in the final chicane.
"I had really strong pace and felt like if I had the track position I could go and get Max but that’s what happens when you qualify behind unfortunately," Piastri said.
Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton in seventh only driver from the top 10 to gain a place, two weeks after both were disqualified in China because their cars had violated regulations.
George Russell was fifth for Mercedes and team-mate Antonelli in sixth led three rookies in the points, the others being Alpine's Isack Hadjar in eighth and Oliver Bearman of Haas in 10th.
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