Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a brilliant drive to win the Japanese Grand Prix, securing his fourth consecutive triumph at the Suzuka Circuit. The World Champion fended off the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to take the top spot.
Verstappen made a strong start from pole position, quickly establishing a solid lead over the McLaren pair in the early laps. However, drama unfolded during the pit stops when Verstappen’s slightly slower stop allowed Norris—who had pitted on the same lap—to attempt a side-by-side maneuver at the pit exit. The move forced Norris to take to the grass while Verstappen maintained the lead.
Though both drivers voiced their frustrations over team radio, the stewards chose not to investigate the incident, and Verstappen retained his position as the race continued, gradually extending his lead over Norris.
In the final 10 laps, the battle intensified as Piastri closed in on Norris, prompting the latter to increase his pace and try to reduce Verstappen’s gap. Despite his efforts, it wasn’t enough, and Verstappen crossed the line to secure his 64th Grand Prix win, with Norris finishing second and Piastri in third on his 24th birthday.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth, ahead of the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli impressed with a stint at the front after extending his first stop. Lewis Hamilton took seventh for Ferrari, while rookie Isack Hadjar earned his first points of the season with an eighth-place finish for Racing Bulls. Williams’ Alex Albon came in ninth, and Haas’ Ollie Bearman rounded out the top 10.
Fernando Alonso, who had failed to finish in the first two rounds of the season, was pleased to finish P11. Yuki Tsunoda, in his Red Bull debut, secured P12, while Pierre Gasly finished 13th for Alpine. Carlos Sainz, Jack Doohan, and Nico Hülkenberg followed in the standings, with Liam Lawson in 17th for Racing Bulls. Esteban Ocon took 18th for Haas, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll finished in 19th and 20th respectively
With the win, Verstappen is now just one point behind Norris at the top of the championship standings, with Piastri climbing to third ahead of Russell.
Key Quote: “It was tough, just pushing very hard especially on the last set,” Verstappen said. “The two McLarens were pushing me very hard and it was a lot of fun out there. Not easy, of course, to manage the tyres, but I’m incredibly happy. It started off quite tough this weekend, but we didn’t give up, we kept improving the car, and today it was in its best form. Of course, starting on pole really made it possible to win this race.”
What’s Next: The F1 circus now heads to Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the next race in a triple-header. The event will take place from April 11-13 at the Bahrain International Circuit.
