Japanese Grand Prix – Formula One: Live leaderboard and lap-by-lap updates as Max Verstappen leads for Red Bull early on

Lewis Hamilton stands out as the only driver within the top 16 to have commenced the race on hard compound tyres, a strategic divergence from the favoured medium tyres.

He is demonstrating considerable advancement, having smoothly overtaken Isack Hadjar and is now closing in on Kimi Antonelli.

Christian Horner highlighted the significance of a clear track ahead at the race outset, a condition from which Verstappen has notably benefited.

Norris has diminished Verstappen’s lead, narrowing it by approximately 0.25 seconds over the course of three laps – a marginal yet perceptible gain.

Piastri has voiced concerns regarding rear tyre degradation, a crucial factor to monitor, especially with only a fraction of the race completed.

Verstappen’s advantage over Norris has now stretched to almost two full seconds, with Piastri trailing Norris by a further 1.5 seconds, despite registering the fastest lap.

The current running order is Leclerc in fourth, followed by Russell, Antonelli, and Hamilton.

Stroll has entered the pit lane; he began the race on soft tyres from the back and remains in the same position.

Albon expressed frustration over the radio, reporting issues with his gear shifts.

Norris’s team has radioed in a warning about anticipated light rain around lap 20, though this is not expected to alter their strategy.

Tsunoda managed to overtake Lawson early in the race, placing them 13th and 14th respectively. However, Tsunoda has since built a significant gap, diminishing the prospect of a close battle for the moment.

Verstappen’s upshifts are now functioning more effectively, easing concerns he previously had.

Hamilton is gaining ground on his Ferrari teammate Antonelli, who currently holds sixth position.

Bearman has so far maintained his position in 10th. The race order remains largely unchanged, as anticipated at this stage.

Impressive move by Hamilton, who has overtaken rookie Hadjar for seventh place, despite using hard tyres. The hard compound appears advantageous, preventing excessive overheating and enabling a quicker exit from the chicane.

A significant challenge at Suzuka is managing tyre temperature when closely following another car through the S-curves, necessitating a delicate balance.

Norris will be content to maintain his position; however, Verstappen establishing a lead beyond DRS range is a concern.

Norris is currently trailing Verstappen by approximately 1.06 seconds, marginally outside of DRS range, and overtaking on this circuit is notoriously difficult.

Antonelli briefly went off track at the chicane, and the stewards will review whether he gained an unfair advantage, though it appeared not.

Verstappen communicated to Red Bull that his upshifts are ‘really bad,’ yet he has still achieved a rapid start.

DRS has been activated. Remnants of early morning rain are still visible on sections of the track. No changes in position amongst the top contenders thus far, although Bortoleto has slipped three places to the rear.

Verstappen initiated the race impressively, effectively preventing any immediate challenge from Norris, with Piastri maintaining close proximity. The leading trio have all achieved strong starts.

No significant incidents or collisions reported at the start.

The formation lap is now in progress. Doohan and Stroll are the only drivers opting for soft compound tyres at the start, positioned at the grid’s rear. Hamilton is unique among the top half of the grid in selecting hard compound tyres.

Three emerging talents are set to start in the top half today: Mercedes’ Antonelli in sixth, Racing Bulls’ Hadjar in seventh, and Haas’ Bearman in 10th, indicating a potentially strong showing for the younger drivers.

Despite overnight heavy rainfall, current forecasts suggest a predominantly dry race, contrary to hopes for rain-influenced unpredictability.

Any precipitation is anticipated to be limited to light showers, potentially favouring the McLaren team.

For Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, a cautious approach at the start is advisable, prioritizing a clean start over aggressively challenging Verstappen immediately into turn one.

The McLaren strategists are likely confident that their car’s superior race pace will provide opportunities to outperform the Red Bull driver later in the race.

In a rare admission for Red Bull, team principal Christian Horner acknowledged McLaren’s current performance advantage, a noteworthy shift from Red Bull’s accustomed dominance.

Speaking to F1 TV, Christian Horner stated:

‘McLaren currently possesses the leading car, making the challenge of keeping them behind a significant task today. The pivotal strategic decision is whether to opt for a one or two-stop race.’

He further noted, ‘Clean air at a circuit like Suzuka is exceptionally advantageous, as overtaking is notably challenging here.’

Max Verstappen secured pole position for Red Bull, narrowly outpacing Lando Norris in the final qualifying session.

His new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, will start from 14th position, behind Liam Lawson, the driver he replaced in the team.

Lewis Hamilton qualified in eighth place, trailing his Ferrari counterpart Charles Leclerc by four positions.

Mid-race rain remains a possibility, potentially introducing unpredictability and strategic complexity to the Grand Prix.

Greetings, race enthusiasts! Are you ready for the action?

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For those still waking up, we anticipate a captivating race ahead.