Max Verstappen Dominates Japanese Grand Prix, Closes Gap with Norris in Drivers’ Standings
Max Verstappen has taken a commanding win at the Japanese Grand Prix, dominating from pole position in a performance that announced a surprising comeback at the Suzuka International Circuit. The Dutchman had started on pole for the first time in his 2025 campaign after struggling with the RB21 at the beginning of the season.
Verstappen’s win marks his fourth consecutive victory at the track, where he has often declared dominance throughout his career. The Red Bull driver now sits just one point behind Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings.
Key Highlights from the Japanese Grand Prix
- Verstappen’s Dominant Win: Verstappen took the lead from pole position and maintained his advantage throughout the race, despite a slow pit stop on lap 23.
- Norris’ Aggressive Battle: Norris fought hard for the win, taking his battle with Verstappen to the grass at one point.
- Kimi Antonelli’s Impressive Debut: Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli led the race for a period, holding off seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
- Hamilton’s Unique Achievement: Hamilton set a unique achievement during the race, with his early overtake on Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar being the only overtake among the top 10 all afternoon.
- Piastri’s Pace: Piastri appeared quicker than his teammate in the later stages of the race, but McLaren failed to initiate ‘papaya rules’ to catch up with Verstappen.
Final Results
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:31.548sec
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +1.423sec
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +2.129sec
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +16.097sec
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +17.362sec
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +18.671sec
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +29.182sec
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – +37.134sec
- Alex Albon (Williams) – +40.367sec
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +54.529sec
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +57.333sec
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +58.401sec
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +62.122sec
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +74.129sec
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – +81.314sec
- Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) – +81.957sec
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +82.734sec
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +83.438sec
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) – +83.897sec
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) + 1 Lap
2025 Rule Change
The fastest lap point has been removed for the 2025 season, a rule change aimed at preventing drivers from abandoning their races to claim the extra point. Since 2019, drivers have picked up an extra point if they finish in the top 10 and achieve the fastest lap. However, it did lead to some drivers abandoning their races to pit and fit a set of new tyres at the end in order to claim the fastest lap point, or to stop a rival from getting the extra point.
The most famous example of this in 2024 came during Daniel Ricciardo’s final F1 race, when the Australian finished last but claimed the fastest lap on the final lap of the Singapore GP, taking the extra point away from Lando Norris and helping Max Verstappen’s title bid.
Current F1 World Champion
Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, having won his fourth drivers’ championship last year.
