Max Verstappen, the race winner, drove a Red Bull Racing RB20 in the parc ferme on April 7, 2024. The Japanese Grand Prix, which was part of the Formula 1 World Championship, took place in Suzuka, Japan. Verstappen’s victory was made possible by a modification to the front wing during a red flag period, as revealed by Christian Horner, team principal of the Red Bull Formula 1 team. This victory came after Verstappen’s retirement in Australia two weeks earlier and allowed Red Bull to secure a third 1-2 finish in the first four races of the season, extending their lead in the championship over Ferrari. Horner expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting the front row lockout, fastest lap, and fastest pit stop.
Prior to the race, both Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez were concerned about the Red Bull’s long-run pace competitiveness based on their practice simulations. However, Verstappen credited a series of adjustments made before parc ferme conditions were imposed to improve the car’s performance. Horner acknowledged the positive impact of these changes and the potential influence of the warmer conditions during the race. He also mentioned that it was difficult to accurately assess Ferrari’s performance due to uncertainties about fuel loads during Friday’s practice sessions.
A pesar del buen comienzo de Verstappen, experimentó un cambio en el equilibrio de su coche, pasando de subviraje a sobreviraje. Sin embargo, la bandera roja en la vuelta 1, causada por un accidente entre Alex Albon y Daniel Ricciardo, permitió que el equipo hiciera ajustes en el ángulo del ala delantera de Verstappen, corrigiendo el problema. Horner elogió al equipo por ejecutar la carrera sin problemas o complicaciones, destacando las diferentes condiciones de la pista en comparación con los entrenamientos del viernes. En general, fue una carrera bien ejecutada para Red Bull.