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Verstappen Easily Wins F1 Japanese Grand Prix

Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing in action during the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 24 September 2023. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing in action during the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 24 September 2023. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
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Verstappen Easily Wins F1 Japanese Grand Prix

Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing in action during the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 24 September 2023. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing in action during the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 24 September 2023. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Runaway series leader Max Verstappen returned to dominant form on Sunday, winning the Japanese Grand Prix and moving a step closer to securing his third consecutive Formula One drivers’ championship.
The Red Bull driver, who missed out on the podium a week ago in Singapore, started from pole and held on for his 13th win of the season.
McLaren driver Lando Norris was second, 19.4 seconds back of Verstappen, while his teammate Australia rookie Oscar Piastri was third for his first F1 podium.
With Verstappen’s win, Red Bull secured this year’s constructors’ title, their sixth overall and second in a row, The Associated Press reported.
Verstappen increased his lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to 177 points. He could wrap up his third consecutive title at the Oct. 6-9 Qatar Grand Prix.
It was a disastrous day for Perez, who was given a penalty for hitting Haas driver Kevin Magnussen and retired from the race after serving the penalty.
Verstappen saw his record 10-race winning streak come to end at Marina Bay in Singapore and came to Japan determined to get back on top of the podium. Prior to Sunday’s race, he led every session at the fast Suzuka circuit, where he wrapped up last year’s championship in a rain-shortened race.

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McLaren Boss Calls for Permanent F1 Stewards after Herbert Axed

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a
Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a
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McLaren Boss Calls for Permanent F1 Stewards after Herbert Axed

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a
Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a

McLaren boss Zak Brown called for permanent stewards in Formula One after the governing FIA dropped former racer Johnny Herbert on Wednesday, arguing his work as a media pundit was incompatible with the role.

Brown, whose team won the constructors' title last season, told the Autosport Business Exchange conference in London that McLaren would happily pay their share of the cost of professional officials.

Stewards are largely unpaid volunteers, other than travel expenses, appointed by the FIA on race-by-race basis to ensure the rules are applied consistently and fairly during race weekends and handing out punishments as necessary.

"I don't think we're set up for success by not having full-time stewards," said Brown.

"As far as paying for stewards, this will probably be unpopular amongst my fellow teams (but) I'm happy if McLaren and all the racing teams contribute. I think it's so important for the sport.

"It can't be that expensive. If everyone contributes it's not going to break the bank."

Herbert, a three-times race winner from 160 starts who competed for an array of F1 teams in the 1980s and 1990s and won the Le Mans 24 Hours, had been scheduled to officiate at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

The 60-year-old former Sky Sports F1 pundit angered four-times world champion Max Verstappen and father Jos last season for media comments about the Red Bull driver's track behaviour, according to Reuters.

"It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA," the governing body said in a statement.

"Johnny is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his role. However, after discussion, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible.

"We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours."

There was no immediate comment from Herbert, one of the stewards in Mexico City last season who handed Verstappen two 10-second penalties for aggressive moves on his McLaren title rival Lando Norris.

"Those penalties in Mexico won’t stop Max Verstappen from pushing Lando Norris off the track in the future," the Briton commented afterwards, referring to the Dutch driver's driving style as "harsh".

"I am such a big fan of Verstappen and it frustrates me massively when he drives the way he did in Mexico," he added.

The Briton has continued to offer opinions, circulated in the media, for betting websites.