Tops

He was keen to quickly set the record straight and he did not delay. Dominant during testing, author of pole on Saturday, the Dutchman went it alone on Sunday to achieve a 13th success this season and the 48th in his career already. Max Verstappen is getting a little closer to a third crown but in the meantime, he has given Red Bull a sixth constructors’ crown. Royal Sunday for the Austrian brand.

We have to realize where McLaren is coming from. The car was missed at the start of the season, it was even considered the worst after Saudi Arabia, but the British team worked, worked a lot. A new single-seater has appeared in Austria, launching a radiant summer and it continues for the papaya cars which sign a double podium in Japan, Lando Norris (2nd) and Oscar Piastri (3rd). It is also the first in F1 for the Australian, just extended, and the second in a row for the Briton after his second place in Singapore.

The Blues are smiling. Exiting in Q2 on Saturday, the French cars aimed to enter the top 10 and it was achieved. Despite a somewhat chaotic start, Esteban Ocon, using an offbeat strategy, took a good ninth place just ahead of Pierre Gasly, 10th. Three points that feel good in a season that really looks like a roller coaster for Alpine.

Flops

The Mexican is under pressure at Red Bull. His performances are not satisfactory and his future is uncertain with the Austrian team. His stay in Japan was not reassuring. Far from Verstappen in qualifying, 5th, Sergio Perez made a series of errors in the race: overtaking under a safety car and a suicidal attack on Magnussen. RB number 2 didn’t even complete 20 laps but still took the time to smash two front wings. The first retirement of a Red Bull this season. Not enough to raise his rating. He was even punished by his team who sent him back onto the track 30 minutes after his retirement to test parts…

The British team expected to suffer at Suzuka, a track that does not match Williams’ characteristics, and they were not disappointed as at the end of the 28th lap both cars were ‘out’. After smashing a car in qualifying, Logan Sargeant retired after 20 laps following incidents at the start. The American was imitated by Alex Albon at the end of the 28th lap. A complicated weekend for Williams.