Max Verstappen successfully defended his lead against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, winning his first Formula 1 race of the 2025 season in a closely contested Japanese Grand Prix.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen crossed the finish line 1.4 seconds ahead of Norris, securing his fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka. Piastri closely followed his McLaren teammate, finishing in third, just seven-tenths of a second behind Norris.
A pivotal moment occurred on Lap 22 when Verstappen and Norris made their pit stops simultaneously. Rejoining the race, they were nearly side-by-side, with Norris briefly going off-track onto the grass.
Norris argued he was `forced off`, but race stewards reviewed the incident and decided no further action was necessary, indicating that Norris should have yielded as Verstappen was ahead.
From that point, Verstappen expertly managed his tires, maintaining his lead despite persistent pressure from Norris and Piastri. The McLaren drivers pushed hard but were unable to get within DRS range of the reigning world champion.
The top three finishers in Suzuka each have a race win in the 2025 season. Norris currently leads the Drivers` Championship by a single point over Verstappen, with Piastri 13 points behind, as they head to the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend.
The top six finishers mirrored their starting grid positions. Charles Leclerc finished a distant fourth, followed by George Russell in fifth, and rookie Kimi Antonelli, who briefly led his first F1 laps, in sixth place.
Lewis Hamilton overtook Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls early in the race to secure seventh place. Alex Albon from Williams finished ninth, and Oliver Bearman of Haas completed the top ten.
Local favorite Yuki Tsunoda, in his first home Grand Prix for Red Bull, only gained two positions to finish 12th, behind Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.
How Verstappen Outmaneuvered the Faster McLarens
The Suzuka Circuit was slightly damp at the start, but dry enough for slick tires. Verstappen knew a strong start was crucial to maintain his pole position and convert it into a race win.
Verstappen and Norris had comparable starts, and the top ten positions remained unchanged through the initial laps as the race became a contest of tire management. Norris initially paced himself before increasing his pace leading up to the pit stops.
McLaren chose to pit Piastri first, followed by Verstappen and Norris, who pitted together with just over a second separating them. A slightly slower pit stop for Red Bull allowed Norris to draw almost level with Verstappen upon exiting the pits. Norris briefly went onto the grass, claiming Verstappen forced him off, a claim Verstappen dismissed, stating Norris `drove into the grass himself`.
Despite McLaren`s apparent pace advantage throughout the season, the high-speed corners of Suzuka made close following difficult due to turbulent air.
Verstappen maintained a gap of 1 to 2.5 seconds for the remaining 30 laps after the pit stop. Norris couldn`t close in enough to attack, hindered by the aerodynamic effects of following closely behind Verstappen.
Piastri also contended for position but opted not to challenge his teammate, settling for a podium finish on his birthday.
McLaren`s double podium finish increased their lead over Mercedes in the Constructors` Championship to 36 points. However, their drivers may feel some disappointment at not securing a win on a circuit that favored their car`s characteristics.
`It was a challenging race. The McLarens were very fast,` Verstappen acknowledged, becoming the first driver to win four consecutive races at Suzuka. `It was enjoyable but demanding on the tires. I`m extremely pleased. The weekend began somewhat difficult, but we persisted, continuously improving the car. Today, it was at its best. Starting from pole position was essential for the victory.`
Aside from Antonelli`s extended first stint, which saw him briefly lead, the race was relatively uneventful. Hamilton, starting on hard tires, also ran a long first stint in hopes of a safety car, eventually finishing seventh in what was an otherwise quiet weekend for Ferrari.
For the first time in 2025, all 20 drivers finished the Grand Prix. Circuit organizers were relieved there were no grass fires, which had caused disruptions earlier in the race weekend.
Japanese GP Race Results
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:22:06.983 |
| 2) Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.423 |
| 3) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +2.129 |
| 4) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +16.097 |
| 5) George Russell | Mercedes | +17.362 |
| 6) Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +18.671 |
| 7) Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +37.134 |
| 8) Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +40.367 |
| 9) Alex Albon | Williams | +56.321 |
| 10 ) Oliver Bearman | Haas | +54.529 |
| 11) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +57.333 |
| 12) Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | +58.401 |
| 13) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1:02.122 |
| 14) Carlos Sainz | Williams | +1:14.129 |
| 15) Jack Doohan | Alpine | +1:21.314 |
| 16) Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | +1:21.957 |
| 17) Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +1:22.734 |
| 18) Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1:23.438 |
| 19) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1:23.897 |
| 20) Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | +1 lap |
Formula 1 will continue its triple-header in Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend on April 11-13.
Marcus Prine