Formula 1 rolled into Suzuka Circuit last weekend for the Japanese Grand Prix, but there was not much passing throughout the race. Max Verstappen took his first win of the season with an alternate white livery after holding off the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri all day. Still, the race didn’t produce much overtaking.
However, many interesting storylines emerged from the race including Yuki Tsunoda starting his first race in the Red Bull, a lack of team orders between the McLaren drivers in the closing moments of the race, and Alpine’s Jack Doohan crashing spectacularly on his first flying lap the second practice session and what that might mean for his future. Wyatt Watson, Peter Malloy and Maximo Brignardello look back on the third race on the F1 calendar.
“The Pit Straight” is Frontstretch‘s open-wheel racing podcast, available during the racing season weekly on Tuesdays on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and right here on the web.
Wyatt Watson has followed motorsports closely since 2007. He joined Frontstretch as a journalist in February 2023 after serving in the United States Navy for five years as an Electronic Technician Navigation working on submarines. Wyatt is one of Frontstretch's primary IndyCar correspondents, providing exclusive video content on site. He hosts Frontstretch's Through the Gears podcast and occasionally The Pit Straight.You can find Wyatt's written work in columns such as Friday Faceoff and 2-Headed Monsteras well as exclusive IndyCar features. Wyatt also contributes to Frontstretch's social media team, posting unique and engaging content for Frontstretch.
Wyatt Watson can be found on X @WyattWRacing