FIA Conducts Post-Race Inspection on McLaren Following Norris’ Podium Finish at Japanese GP
The FIA has confirmed that Lando Norris’ McLaren underwent a detailed inspection following the conclusion of the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend, as part of the sport’s standard post-race technical compliance process. The British driver, who continues to show strong form in the 2025 Formula 1 season, secured a second-place finish at the iconic Suzuka Circuit—his best result there to date—behind reigning World Champion Max Verstappen.
As is common practice in Formula 1, the FIA randomly selects one or more cars from the top 10 finishers for post-race checks to ensure compliance with the sport’s technical regulations. After Sunday’s race, the No. 4 McLaren was chosen for this detailed review. According to the official FIA report, Norris’ car was subjected to a series of thorough physical inspections, including analysis of its on-car software, setup configurations, and the data logged during the race.
The report from the governing body stated: “Subject to those physical inspections were the on-car software, configurations and logged data. All inspected items were found to be in conformance with the 2025 Formula 1 Technical Regulations.”
McLaren cooperated fully with the inspection, providing both real-time telemetry and stored data from the race. The team, as well as Norris, were cleared of any irregularities, with the FIA reaffirming that the car adhered to all relevant standards. While such inspections are standard procedure, they often draw extra attention when they involve podium finishers or teams currently in championship contention.
The result at Suzuka marks another strong showing for McLaren, who appear to be genuine title contenders in 2025. Lando Norris, now in his sixth full season in Formula 1, has shown immense consistency this year, and his latest podium has helped him maintain a narrow lead in the drivers’ standings. However, with Verstappen taking victory in Japan—his fourth consecutive win at the circuit—the Red Bull star is now just a single point behind Norris in the standings.
Despite Verstappen voicing dissatisfaction with the current performance levels of his RB21, he has still managed to rack up an impressive series of results, keeping him firmly in the championship hunt. His ability to extract strong finishes even while reportedly struggling with car balance speaks volumes about his skill and the underlying pace of the Red Bull package.
Norris, meanwhile, has taken full advantage of the improved performance from McLaren’s MCL39, a car that has shown both race-winning pace and consistency over the early rounds of the season. Alongside his teammate Oscar Piastri—who has also claimed a victory this year—Norris has helped elevate McLaren to a genuine threat against Red Bull’s recent dominance.
The battle between Norris and Verstappen is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about storylines of the season. With both drivers performing at the peak of their abilities, fans are witnessing a tightly contested fight for the title that could stretch across the remaining 20 races of the season. Their rivalry has added a refreshing dimension to the 2025 championship, with neither camp clearly dominating the other so far.
However, some critics and pundits have started to question whether McLaren can maintain their edge over Red Bull as the season progresses. Suzuka, a track known for its high-speed corners and limited overtaking opportunities, didn’t offer much room for position changes once the race settled in. Many drivers—including Norris and Verstappen—finished the race in the same positions they started due to the so-called “dirty air” effect, which made it difficult to follow closely and attempt overtakes.
With Bahrain on the horizon, the next round of the championship offers a contrasting circuit layout that may better highlight differences between the cars. The desert track traditionally provides more opportunities for overtaking and tends to test teams’ tire management strategies due to its abrasive surface and significant temperature changes between sessions.
As Formula 1 heads into the next phase of a 24-race calendar, all eyes will be on the continued duel between Norris and Verstappen. Whether McLaren can continue to fend off the challenge from Red Bull remains to be seen, but if recent form is anything to go by, the championship battle is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years.
Meanwhile, the FIA’s consistent enforcement of the rules through random checks like the one conducted on Norris’ car ensures a level playing field—one that will be crucial as the stakes get higher with every race.
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