Japanese Grand Prix: Race Recap

Hulkenberg took the start on Pirelli P Zero Red soft tires from 18^th place but weaved his way through to 12^th across the frenetic opening stages, after which the safety car was called for debris littering the track.

Hulkenberg stopped on lap 8, taking on Yellow medium tires, and remained on the outskirts of the top-10, undertaking two further stops, on lap 21 for White hards, and again on lap 38 for mediums. The German finished the race in 14^th position.

Magnussen, who started on mediums, had to take evasive action on a chaotic opening first lap, the Dane still gaining a position to run 14^th. Magnussen remained on the fringes of the top-10 but was tipped into a spin at the hairpin by Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Perez, who received a time penalty for causing the incident.

Magnussen lost crucial race time and had to come into the pits, taking on hard tires, before making a second stop on lap 32 for another set of the compound. Magnussen took the checkered behind his teammate in 15^th.

Up front Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen claimed the victory, his 13th of the season, ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Kevin Magnussen:

“I got hit on the rear tire, it was a pretty desperate move, but it is what it is. I got spun around, and then we had to pit – that was too early for the two-stop strategy with the tire degradation that we have on our car. It made the situation a lot worse by pitting at that point and I didn’t really want to do a three-stop, so it really ended our race.”

 

Nico Hulkenberg: 

“I think I stayed out of the messy part at the start as on the left, two cars ahead of me, there was contact. I managed to capitalize from that on the inside line and took three or four cars which was quite nice and rewarding. I then gained one further position from someone else, so it was good. We went into the race with a three-stop intention, obviously we’re not the best on tire management, so I think it was the right call.”

 

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal:

“It was a tough race I’d say, but the positive is the team did the best they could with what we’ve got. We got close to fighting our opponents, we were on a different strategy with Nico, and it almost worked out. I know almost is not good enough but with Kevin we lost out because of the spin when Sergio Perez hit him, so we fell back. In the end, we know it’s tough at the moment, but as long as we keep on delivering with what we’ve got that’s a positive, and when we get a better car, we’ll be there ready to take it.”

 

Today's Data

Event: Japanese Grand Prix – Sunday September 24
Location: Suzuka International Circuit, Suzuka
Layout: 5.807-kilometer (3.608-mile), 18-turn circuit
Weather: Sunny
Air Temps: 27.3 degrees Celsius (81.1 degrees Fahrenheit)
Track Temps: 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit)
Race Winner: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing
Team Result: Nico Hulkenberg – Started 18^th / Finished 14^th (Running – completed 52/53 laps)
Kevin Magnussen – Started 15^th / Finished 15^th (Running – completed 52/53 laps)