F1 Results Today: Furious Verstappen and Norris battle produces shock…read more
Max Verstappen claimed an impressive victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, marking a remarkable comeback performance at the Suzuka International Circuit. This victory was his first of the season, having struggled in the early races with the RB21 car, a stark contrast to his usual dominance. Verstappen, who had started the race from pole position, was in control throughout, securing his fourth consecutive win in Japan, a track where he has previously shown exceptional skill. This victory significantly boosted his position in the drivers’ championship standings, where he now sits just one point behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The battle between Verstappen and Norris for the win was intense and thrilling. Despite Verstappen’s commanding performance, Norris pushed him hard throughout the race. At one point, the two championship rivals found themselves on opposite sides of the track after a dramatic pit stop battle. Verstappen experienced a delay in his pit stop on lap 23, allowing Norris to gain an advantage as he exited the pit lane. The British driver used the opportunity to challenge Verstappen fiercely, even taking their battle to the grass before backing off to allow the Dutchman to regain his lead.
In the aftermath of the pit stop exchanges, rookie Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, temporarily led the race. He managed to hold off Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion in a Ferrari, for a brief period before both drivers pitted. This allowed the race order to revert to its previous top three: Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri.
The McLaren team, who had been the early favorites for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, struggled to capitalize on their position. In the later stages of the race, Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate at McLaren, appeared to have the pace to challenge Verstappen. On team radio, Piastri expressed his belief that he could catch Verstappen, but McLaren’s team strategy did not allow for the necessary cooperation between the two drivers. The team did not implement ‘papaya rules,’ a strategy where teammates are instructed to help each other. As a result, despite his pace, Piastri was unable to close the gap to Verstappen.
Verstappen’s win at Suzuka was a crucial moment in the 2025 season, given the tight championship battle. Although Verstappen has shown dominance in Japan over the years, this victory was significant as it came after a difficult start to the season for Red Bull and Verstappen’s own early-season struggles. McLaren, who had been looking strong, especially with Norris leading the charge, were unable to maintain their advantage during the race, and Verstappen’s resilience helped him claw back valuable points in the title race.
After Verstappen, Norris secured second place, with McLaren’s Piastri rounding out the podium in third. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished in fourth place, continuing a solid season for the team. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished in fifth and sixth positions, respectively, while Hamilton, despite a competitive effort, could only manage seventh place after losing ground in the pit stop shuffle.
Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar finished in eighth, ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon in ninth, and Haas’ Oliver Bearman in tenth. Fernando Alonso, another veteran of the sport, finished in eleventh for Aston Martin. The race also saw a number of other notable finishes, including Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in twelfth and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in thirteenth. Other drivers in the lower positions included Carlos Sainz, Jack Doohan, and Nico Hulkenberg, who completed the race in thirteenth, fourteenth, and sixteenth positions respectively.
One of the more notable changes for the 2025 season was the removal of the extra point for the fastest lap. This rule, which had been in place since 2019, allowed the driver who achieved the fastest lap while finishing in the top ten to earn an additional point. This rule had led to some controversial moments, where drivers would pit late in the race to claim the fastest lap, even if it meant abandoning their race strategy. A notable example came in 2024 when Daniel Ricciardo, in his final race, finished last but secured the fastest lap, denying Lando Norris an extra point and aiding Verstappen’s championship bid. In 2025, this rule was removed to prevent such strategies and maintain the integrity of the racing.
Verstappen’s victory has now brought him within one point of Lando Norris, who still leads the championship standings. The fierce battle between the two drivers has become one of the most exciting storylines of the season, and with the title race tightening, the Japanese Grand Prix result has only intensified the competition. The remaining races of the season promise more drama, with McLaren and Red Bull continuing their rivalry at the top of the standings. For now, Verstappen has shown his strength and resilience in one of his favorite tracks, but Norris will no doubt continue to push hard for his first
-ever F1 title.
