Suzuka (Japan), April 6 -- Red Bull's Max Verstappen fended off a race-long challenge from the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Dutchman's fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka was his first of the year and moves him to within one point of Norris at the head of the drivers' championship, the BBC reported.
Verstappen's drive was cool under intense pressure, with rarely more than two seconds between him and Norris, and founded on a quite brilliant pole position lap on Saturday.
McLaren had feared that the Red Bull would be difficult to pass if Verstappen held the lead at the start, and so it proved.
Verstappen led the two McLarens for the entire first stint, the three lapping closely together....