By Robert Haile

Red Bull are the 2023 Constructors Champions as Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Milton Keynes team made it back to back championships adding to the 2022 victory and four they secured in 2010-2013 as Verstappen took another step towards his third title.

Current drivers champion and leader Verstappen held off the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim victory.

Race winner, Verstappen said: “What an incredible weekend. It’s been a massive Team effort, there are a lot of people involved in getting us to where we are today.

“You only really see very few people here at track, there are lots of people working tirelessly at the factory to make sure we are always performing at our highest. What we are showing this year is pure dominance, we can all be extremely proud.

“It was an amazing feeling to see the Team celebrating in the garage on the track TVs during my in-lap. We’re definitely enjoying it but we won’t take anything for granted.”

A dramatic opening ended up with a Safety Car coming out as Williams’ Alex Albon went air borne but made it back to the pits along with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, both Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas as they all needed repair and Williams’ Logan Sargeant ended up with a five second penalty.

A clash between Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Mercedes Lewis Hamilton sent the Mercedes to the grass but ended with Perez pitting with front wing damage and a five second penalty for a Safety Car infringement.

His day got worse as he locked his brakes and made contact with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen causing front wing damage and a five second penalty before having to retire later in the race.

This means Verstappen could claim the Drivers Championship at the next Grand Prix in Qatar.

With Verstappen clear Norris and Piastri played out a tactical battle as Norris jumped Piastri at the start before losing second to the Australian when he pitted before a Virtual Safety Car gave him it back.

Norris then showed enough pace to make the team decide to swap places as the McLarens took second and third with Norris beating Piastri.

Ferrari’s battle with Mercedes heated up as Charles Leclerc took fourth as Lewis Hamilton passed teammate George Russell and then Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took sixth off the British driver.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finished eighth with Alpine taking double points as Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly took ninth and tenth.

Home favourite Yuki Tsunoda finished twelfth as Liam Lawson took eleventh as the AlphaTauri drivers missed out on points.

Guanyu was the only Alfa Romeo to finish in thirteenth as Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen came home last of the runners.

Both Williams’ of Albon and Sargeant did not finish along with Alfa Romeo’s Bottas, Red Bull’s Perez and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

Max Verstappen’s lead is increased to 177 points ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez in the Drivers Championship with Lewis Hamilton 33 points off Perez in third.

Verstappen can seal the Drivers Championship at Qatar next time out.

The Constructors Championship is over as Red Bull claimed the title as they lead Mercedes by 318 points.

The battle for second has heated up as Mercedes are only 20 points ahead of Ferrari in third while McLaren are 64 points off third in fourth.

Formula One heads to the Middle East for the Qatar Grand Prix on October 6-8.