Max Gives Red Bull Wiiiiiings

Welcome to the first edition of PLP. It’s light’s out and away we go!

To kick it off: What constructor was the first ever Formula 1 champion?

BONUS: Who was the driver? Find out the answer to both below.

Red Bull Returns to Form

Proving Singapore was an outlier in a dream season, Max Verstappen put on a dominant performance in Suzuka to seal the Constructor’s Championship for Red Bull Racing. Max was fired up after Singapore, telling team principal Christian Horner: “I want to win the race by 20 seconds.” And with a 19.4s gap to Lando Norris in P2 all we can say is.. well played, Max.

Oscar Piastri Captures 1st F1 Podium

The stand out Australian rookie took the podium for the first time in his F1 career, finishing P3 behind his McLaren teammate. Piastri actually expressed some disappointment in his performance after dropping from second position on the grid at lights out, and cited the need for better tire degradation management throughout the race.

Suzuka Race Recap

A popular favorite among the drivers, Suzuka delivered decent entertainment in 2023’s edition as long as you’re fine with knowing the winner after the first turn (Max is doing Max things this year, it’s best we resign ourselves to marveling at the greatness). Catch all the action here in under 8 minutes.

Plus- should a team be allowed to retire the same car twice?

Down the Grid

Max Verstappen: “I don’t even like podcasts”, after Lando references the cooldown room meme

Sergio Perez: Opens up on his mental health this season

Lewis Hamilton: Goal is to beat Ferrari

Fernando Alonso: Not happy with the team’s pit strategy, “You throw me to lions”

Carlos Sainz: A second career on the course?

Charles Leclerc: Thought he had a podium due to Checo’s twice retirement

Lando Norris: P2 is becoming a thing

George Russell: “Zero hard feelings” on team orders

Oscar Piastri: Signed though 2026 season

Lance Stroll: Read wing “was falling off”

Pierre Gasly: Frustrated by team’s call on final lap

Esteban Ocon: Thoughts on lap 1

Alexander Albon: Airborne at the start

Nico Hulkenberg: Knew this would be a tough race

Valtetteri Bottas: Tough day after lap 9 collision

Zhou Guanyu: Compromised by debris

Yuki Tsunoda: Japan loves their home driver

Kevin Magnussen: Spun in Suzuka

Liam Lawson: Despite impressive performance, a seat in 2024 eludes him

Logan Sargeant: Qualifying crash part of a tough weekend

Daniel Ricciardo: Return from injury will be on his terms

Constructor’s Corner

Red Bull: Champs

Mercedes: Hamilton on car development

Aston Martin: Jessica Hawkins becomes first woman in 5 years to drive in full F1 test outing

Ferrari: Smooth Operator

Alpine: Team orders were not discussed pre-race

McLaren: Double podium

Haas: AAA video

Alpha Romeo: Tough going

Williams: Double DNF

AlphaTauri: “Back when it all began” for Yuki

Tech Talk

• Max’s tire management from the always insightful @FDataAnalysis

• Checo’s race breakdown by Jolyon Palmer

Quiz Answer

Alfa Romeo took the inaugural F1 championship in 1950, with Giuseppe Farina behind the wheel.

No race this weekend… but we’ll still be back next Friday!