Mercedes were not messing about at the Japanese Grand Prix.
It may have been another predictable Red Bull one-two on track, but the German manufacturer, along with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, were fighting their own battle.
Russell managed a seventh place finish with a later overtake on Oscar Piastri, while Hamilton was also close by in ninth.
The latter’s forthcoming move to Ferrari means tongues will be wagging all season, especially given his complaints about his car in recent years, which appeared to fall on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, the man he will replace, Carlos Sainz, is delivering a fine season, ending third at Suzuka and ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.
This is starting to make Hamilton fans a little touchy, with some feeling Russell may now be getting special treatment, and on lap 14 things came to a head when one was critical of the Mercedes strategy.
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