ESPN F1

TOKYO -- The plan seemed simple at first: Ask the Formula One grid's best-known foodie, Yuki Tsunoda, for a restaurant recommendation in Tokyo, visit the establishment on the way to this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, order a dish that is unique to Japan, take photos, eat, and then report about the experience to you, the reader. As is so often the case with plans of good intention, though, it didn't quite work out.

Alonso was being chased by potential future teammate George Russell on the penultimate lap when the Mercedes driver lost control of his car and crashed at Turn 6. Although there was no contact between the two, the stewards immediately opted to look at how Alonso had applied the brakes on the approach to that corner.

At that moment, a return to the cockpit of his Ferrari seemed distant. A return to the top step of the podium seemed like pure fantasy.

Sainz claimed a memorable victory on Sunday, just over two weeks on from surgery for appendicitis. The Ferrari driver overtook championship leader Max Verstappen on lap four, as the Red Bull suffered a brake problem and failed to finish.

Hulkenberg encountered Perez's slow-moving Red Bull in Turn 13 during one of his hot laps in the opening session of qualifying and failed to make the cut for Q2.