Formula 1

Max Verstappen secured a hard-fought victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, holding off McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a race that was defined by constant pressure. This victory, Verstappen’s fourth consecutive win at Suzuka, narrowed the gap to just one point between him and Norris in the drivers’ championship standings. Verstappen’s performance was stellar, maintaining a cool head under relentless challenge from the McLarens, with the gap rarely exceeding two seconds. His pole position lap on Saturday set the stage for his race-long dominance. McLaren had anticipated difficulty in overtaking the Red Bull, and it became evident as Verstappen led throughout the first stint. Pitting strategies raised some eyebrows, particularly McLaren’s decision to pit Piastri before Norris. Despite Norris being within range for an undercut, McLaren opted to…