Furious Verstappen and Norris battle produces shock ra…read more
Max Verstappen secured a commanding victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, overcoming early season struggles to win at the Suzuka International Circuit. Starting from pole position, Verstappen dominated the race, marking his first victory of the season. This win also marked his fourth consecutive triumph at Suzuka, a circuit where he has become one of Formula 1’s most successful drivers.
Despite Verstappen’s victory, he remains in second place in the drivers’ standings, just one point behind McLaren’s Lando Norris. The British driver fought hard throughout the race, including a dramatic moment where he was forced to take the battle with Verstappen onto the grass. However, it was Verstappen who ultimately secured the win, extending his record at Suzuka and reaffirming his position as one of the sport’s elite talents.
The race was full of excitement, with Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli leading at one point following a dramatic pit stop. Antonelli managed to hold off seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari. However, once both drivers pitted, the top three positions largely remained unchanged. Verstappen, Norris, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri all regained their positions at the front of the field after the pit stops. In the latter stages of the race, Piastri showed impressive pace and radioed his team, believing he could challenge Verstappen for the lead. Despite this, McLaren did not apply their “papaya rules” to allow Piastri to overtake Norris, and the race concluded with Verstappen remaining unchallenged at the front.
Verstappen’s victory at Suzuka was not only a milestone for his championship hopes but also a symbolic one for Red Bull’s partnership with Honda. This Japanese Grand Prix was the final race in Japan before the end of the partnership between the two companies, making the win a fitting and emotional send-off. Verstappen described the victory as the “perfect farewell” to this important chapter in Red Bull’s motorsport history.
At the checkered flag, Verstappen crossed the line with a time of 1:31.548, securing a 1.423-second lead over Norris, who finished in second place. Piastri, who had been gaining ground in the race’s closing laps, took third, just 0.706 seconds behind Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished in fourth place, trailing Verstappen by a significant 16.097 seconds, while George Russell of Mercedes rounded out the top five, 17.362 seconds behind the race winner.
Kimi Antonelli, in his debut season, finished in a respectable sixth position, 18.671 seconds behind Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton, despite showing some promising moments, crossed the line in seventh, 29.182 seconds adrift of the Dutch driver. The remainder of the points-paying positions were occupied by Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, Alex Albon of Williams, and Oliver Bearman of Haas, who completed the top 10. The gaps to Verstappen for these finishers ranged from 37.134 seconds to 54.529 seconds.
The race also saw several notable retirements and finishers outside the points. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin finished in 11th, while Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull ended in 12th. Pierre Gasly of Alpine finished in 13th, while Carlos Sainz of Williams crossed the line in 14th place. The race also saw multiple retirements, including Jack Doohan, Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Lance Stroll. Stroll was the only driver who finished a lap down.
In addition to the dramatic on-track action, a significant rule change for the 2025 season impacted the race. The rule awarding an extra point for the fastest lap, which had been in place since 2019, was removed. This change no longer incentivizes drivers to set the fastest lap and finish in the top 10, removing an important element from the race’s strategic calculations.
With his victory, Verstappen has closed the gap to Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings. Just one point separates the two, setting the stage for a thrilling title battle as the 2025 season progresses. Both drivers have demonstrated exceptional performance and are expected to continue their fierce rivalry as they chase the championship. The Japanese Grand Prix will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the season, not only for Verstappen’s comeback but also for the ongoing battle between two of Formula 1’s most talented drivers.
