Max Verstappen Sheds Light on Lack of Excitement Following “Dull” Japanese Grand Prix
Max Verstappen stole the show at the Japanese Grand Prix with a stunning performance that saw him clinch pole position and ultimately secure the victory. Alongside Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the top three drivers delivered a race filled with precision and skill. However, despite the impressive display, both viewers and drivers alike found the race to be lackluster and uneventful. Verstappen, in a post-race interview with Motorsport.com, provided insights to address the criticisms.
The race saw a mere 11 overtakes after the initial laps, with the top 10 qualifying drivers maintaining their positions throughout. The only change in the top 10 came from Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton overtaking Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg summed up the sentiment by describing the race as “dull” and remarked, “Long, dull, not much happening.”
Verstappen acknowledged the challenges of overtaking, stating, “I spent a lot of the race in traffic and it’s not much fun looking at someone’s rear wing in the DRS. It’s so difficult with these cars in the dirty air.” The Red Bull driver’s victory in Japan added 25 points to his tally, positioning him just one point behind his Papaya rival Lando Norris.
Reflecting on the race, Verstappen explained, “A lot of fast corners and that makes it very hard to follow. The tyres get very hot when you get close to someone… When the lap times are quite close together without a lot of tyre degradation, then it becomes very difficult.”
Discussing his performance during the race, Verstappen highlighted the impact of the cooler temperatures at Suzuka in helping him maintain tyre performance. “I think it helped us that it was a bit colder today, so we had less overheating of the tyres because that is still a problem for us,” he said.
The Japanese Grand Prix witnessed unusually low tyre degradation, shifting the focus away from strategic pit stops. The smooth new asphalt on the track also played a role in preserving the tyres, making overtaking a challenging feat. Hulkenberg noted, “It just seemed like everybody finished where they started… The tyres are way too hard for the new smooth tarmac.”
Verstappen’s insights shed light on the complexities faced by drivers in the Japanese Grand Prix and the impact of track conditions on the race outcome. As the season unfolds, the Formula 1 drivers will continue to navigate these challenges in pursuit of victory.
