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International media see unique event: 'Double failure Perez?!'
- Sam Godber
The Japanese Grand Prix was the scene of Red Bull Racing 's sixth title in the constructors' competition. With great power, Max Verstappen drove his RB19 towards the top step of the podium. Things did not go so well for Sergio Perez, who crashed out and later had to take to the track to clear his penalty. International media also saw the Japan GP make interesting reading.
Bild
Bild writes after the race: "After several mishaps in the first 15 laps, Perez switches off his car. Strange: after Verstappen & Co. have completed another 25 laps, Perez is suddenly back on track as well. A tactical move to sit out a [time] penalty and not take him to the next race."
The German medium also sees a striking pattern: "Once again it is at Suzuka where he wins everything. The only difference from last year: this time Verstappen wins the constructors' championship and not the drivers' championship [in Japan]."
La Gazetta Dello Sport
La Gazzetta Dello Sport looks beyond just the constructors' championship: "Red Bull's constructors' title has been won, now all that is missing is Verstappen's drivers' title. The Dutchman, who dominated in Japan, currently has exactly 400 points, which is 177 more than Sergio Perez who is second on 223 and is the only one who, according to arithmetic, can still theoretically overtake the Dutchman. All other drivers have been eliminated."
Marca
Marca finds the incident of Red Bull and Perez extraordinary, but praises the work of the Austrian racing stable. "One of the most talked about actions at the Suzuka circuit was the double elimination of Checo Pérez. A situation not remembered in F1 in the near past and which totally baffled even the race management itself."
"Measures will be taken to ensure that this scenario does not happen again, but the Red Bull team has been enormously skilful in turning a problem into a solution for the future," the Spanish newspaper concludes.
L'Equipe
L'Equipe sees total dominance from the Dutchman in the RB19: "The Dutchman came back superbly after a difficult weekend in Singapore last week (fifth). In the land of the rising sun, Verstappen was supreme, leaving nothing but crumbs for his rivals."
"Red Bull gave him wings and with just one car, the Austrian team won its sixth constructors' title in its history on Sunday," the French newspaper further writes. "Mission accomplished for the Milton Keynes-based team."
The Guardian
The Guardian is also positive about the performance of the reigning world champion's team. "Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix with a commanding drive for Red Bull, sealing the constructors' title and all but concluding the drivers 'title race as well. The Dutchman won with a flawless drive from pole, unchallenged once he had kept his nose in front at the first corner."
Sporza
"Verstappen had immediately set the tone in qualifying on Saturday and would simply continue that good line on Sunday," wrote Sporza. "The Dutchman started energetically, while behind him it was chaos all around: several cars collided with each other, the safety car was allowed to move out immediately."
"What followed was a quiet Sunday drive for Verstappen, who at no point got into trouble. That was not the case for his teammate Sergio Perez. Already at the start, the Mexican started looking for the edges and a bit later he also violated the safety car rules. After a vaudeville (bit of comedy) in the pits, he finally gave up," concluded the Flemish medium.