Max Verstappen has moved to the brink of winning a third successive world title with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
A week after only claiming fifth in Singapore, the Dutchman and his Red Bull car were back to their imperious best as they led from start to finish in Suzuka.
The field's best hope of challenging Verstappen on Sunday was one of the McLarens moving ahead of the Championship leader during the opening stages of the race.
However, Verstappen successfully kept Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at bay, eventually finishing 19.387 seconds clear of the latter with Piastri achieving third, his first podium finish.
Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Jr finished in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, all beneficiaries of George Russell's bold one-stop strategy leaving him vulnerable during the closing laps.
Fernando Alonso, whose Aston Martin has failed to match its rivals during the second half of the season, was eighth, with the Alpine duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly completing the top 10.
Verstappen now sits an astonishing 177 points clear of second-placed Sergio Perez - who retired after 15 laps in Japan - in the Championship standings.
P A R T Y 🥳 T I M E #JapaneseGP @redbullracing pic.twitter.com/LN2kuy5LEg
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Barring a surprise, Verstappen - the holder of 13 race victories from 16 Grand Prixs this term - will be confirmed as champion in Qatar next week.
Despite Perez's early exit from the race on Sunday, Red Bull secured the Constructors' title in Japan, sitting 318 points ahead of nearest challengers Mercedes.
Hamilton looks on course to claim third position in the Drivers' standings, now holding a 16-point lead over Alonso, but fifth-placed Sainz Jr is still 24 points adrift of his compatriot.
