Verstappen's Japan GP win streak under threat as Mercedes dominate

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will carry their early dominance into Suzuka with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton their nearest challengers. Red Bull and Verstappen are scrambling to recover from a disastrous start to the Formula One season, as are McLaren whose drivers -- world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri -- both failed to start in China with separate technical problems. Verstappen, the four-time world champion, finished sixth in the opening grand prix in Australia after crashing in qualifying.