Oscar Piastri has picked up Formula 1 Championship points for the fourth consecutive race after finishing eighth in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Starting on the third row after a decent qualifying session, a challenging outing at the famous Suzuka saw the Australian finish two places lower than where he started.

For much of the race, Piastri found himself behind the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso but couldn’t make it past him at any point of the 53-lap affair – the young Aussie eventually forced to defend his place from the fast charging George Russell over the final laps.

While Piastri did as much as he could to hold off Russell, including just staying within DRS of Alonso, a minor mistake on the penultimate lap gave the Mercedes driver the opening he needed to make the pass stick.  

Piastri then followed Russell over the line to record his second P8 finish for the year.

Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo had a day to forget after the Visa Cash App RB driver was involved in a first-lap incident with Alex Albon, which ended up with both drivers in the barrier at turn two and the red flag out.

Once the race did resume, polesitter Max Verstappen comfortably led from lights out to the chequered flag, while Sergio Perez’s second place secured a third Red Bull one-two this season. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.

The FIA Formula 1 World Championship continues in two weeks time, with the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit on 19-21 April.