By Robert Haile

Max Verstappen returned to the top step as he led teammate Sergio Perez in a Red Bull 1-2.

After not finishing in the Australian Grand Prix Verstappen led Red Bull back into the podium and returned to winning ways for the British based team.

It was a double delight as Perez claimed second place as Carlos Sainz continued his podium run for Ferrari in third after overtaking both McLaren’s Lando Norris and teammate Charles Leclerc late in the race.

Verstappen said: “Today was simply lovely and I really enjoyed the race. We stayed out of trouble in the first lap and from there, we tried to look after the tyres as much as possible.

“We made the right calls before we went into qualifying, which definitely helped today and it is very nice to come back and win after Australia. The car just got better throughout the race and, although it took a few laps before I got a nice rhythm as we didn’t have many practices on the long runs, on the second stint the car really came alive.

“I could push where I needed to and I could look after my tyres well, so the race went really nicely. It was a great Team result the whole weekend and brilliant to score a one two here: our third of the season.

“Suzuka is always a great track to go racing at and overall I am really happy about the performance today.”

After drama on lap 1 had Williams driver Alex Albon and RB Daniel Ricciardo colliding leading to a red flag and early retirement for the pair and Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu the race settled down as warmer than expected temperatures came into play.

Sainz took advantage of this pitting later and passing Norris who finished fifth and Leclerc who held onto fourth.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso held off a charging George Russell for sixth with the Mercedes driver having to settle for seventh after passing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in eighth.

After a promising qualifying Mercedes Lewis Hamilton dropped to ninth while remaining RB driver Yuki Tsunoda took tenth and the final point at his home Grand Prix.

Haas missed out on the points with Nico Hulkenberg in eleventh and Kevin Magnussen in thirteenth as Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll split the pair.

Valtteri Bottas was fourteenth as Alpine’s painful season continued with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly just beating Logan Sargeant who finished last for Williams in seventeenth.

Formula One takes a two week break before heading to China for the first time in five years on April 19-21.