Max Verstappen of Red Bull ended a mini-slump of only two wins in his previous 16 races with a dominant victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Dutch driver, who started from pole position, broke the momentum of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who had won the season’s first two races.

Verstappen’s win was his fourth consecutive victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan, showcasing his mastery of the track.

Verstappen’s pole position was secured with a course-record time in qualifying, which he described as “insane.” The four-time defending Formula 1 champion dominated the race, which was incident-free despite rain earlier in the day. Norris finished second, with Piastri taking third place.

The result sees Verstappen close the gap to Norris in the driver standings, with the McLaren driver leading by just one point.

The Japanese Grand Prix provided a thrilling spectacle, with the dry track conditions allowing for high-speed racing. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by George Russell of Mercedes and his teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth.

Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, who made his debut with Red Bull’s top team, finished 12th.

Verstappen’s win marks a significant turnaround in his fortunes, having struggled to find his form in recent races. The Dutch driver’s dominance on the Suzuka circuit is a testament to his skill and the strength of the Red Bull team.

With the championship battle heating up, Verstappen’s win will give him a crucial boost of confidence and momentum.

The driver’s standings are now finely balanced, with Norris and Verstappen just a point apart. The next round of the championship promises to be highly competitive, with teams and drivers looking to gain an edge in the battle for the title.

With his Japanese Grand Prix win, Verstappen has sent a clear message that he is back in the hunt for the championship.