Japanese GP: Max Verstappen Wins Against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Max Verstappen demonstrated his racing prowess by overcoming fellow competitors Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from McLaren, securing his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the iconic Suzuka Circuit. This victory not only marks a significant milestone for Verstappen but also brings him within a single point of Norris in the fiercely contested F1 Drivers’ Championship standings, paving the way for an exciting battle for the title.

In a gripping finale to the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen successfully defended his lead against both Norris and Piastri to clinch the win, showcasing his exceptional skill and determination on the track. The pole-sitter edged out Norris by a narrow margin of 1.4 seconds, further solidifying his remarkable history at Suzuka with this being his fourth consecutive victory at this particular circuit. Piastri, driving for McLaren, secured third place, merely seven-tenths of a second behind his teammate Norris, highlighting the competitive nature of the race.

A defining moment of the race unfolded on Lap 22 when both Verstappen and Norris made their pit stops. They exited the pit lane nearly side by side, leading to a contentious moment where Norris found himself on the grass. Norris argued that he was “forced off” the track during this incident, but the race stewards reviewed the situation and concluded that no further investigation was necessary, suggesting that Norris should have yielded since Verstappen had a clear lead. This moment encapsulated the intense rivalry between the two drivers, adding layers of drama to an already thrilling race.

Once back on track, Verstappen exhibited superior tyre management, strategically navigating the race while fending off relentless challenges from both Norris and Piastri. Despite their impressive drives, the McLaren duo never managed to close the gap sufficiently to activate the Drag Reduction System (DRS) on Verstappen, indicating his control over the race pace. With this victory, all three drivers have now achieved at least one win in the 2025 season, with Norris maintaining a slender lead in the Drivers’ Championship, followed closely by Verstappen, while Piastri finds himself 13 points adrift as the teams prepare for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.

The rest of the top six positions remained consistent with their starting grid placements, featuring Charles Leclerc finishing fourth in relative solitude, George Russell wrapping up fifth, and Kimi Antonelli making headlines by leading his first-ever laps in Formula 1, ultimately finishing in sixth place. On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton managed to maneuver past Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar early in the race, securing seventh place from the rookie driver. In the final standings, Williams’ Alex Albon finished ninth, and Haas’ Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten.

Fans were also on the lookout for local hero Yuki Tsunoda, who was making his debut for Red Bull. However, he could only make modest gains, ending the race in 12th position behind Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin. Tsunoda’s performance might not have met the expectations of the home crowd, but it’s clear that all eyes will be on him in future races as he seeks to improve.

The weather conditions at the Suzuka Circuit at the start of the race were damp but ultimately suitable for slick tires, with Verstappen recognizing the necessity of maintaining his lead over the McLarens right from the start to convert his impressive pole position into a race win. As the race commenced, Verstappen and Norris launched off the line simultaneously, retaining their positions in the top ten with no notable incidents throughout the pack.

As the race progressed, it became apparent that tyre management would play a crucial role in determining the outcome. Norris initially held off on pushing hard but ramped up his pace leading into the pit stop phase. Notably, McLaren opted to pit Piastri first, setting up an eventful sequence of pit stops shortly thereafter. When both Verstappen and Norris were released from their respective pit boxes, a slightly slower pit stop for Red Bull allowed Norris to position half of his car alongside Verstappen. This incident led to a moment of controversy as Norris took to the grass, insisting he had been forced off. However, Verstappen countered, stating that Norris had lost control himself.

Throughout the remaining laps, Verstappen managed to maintain a gap of 1 to 2.5 seconds, demonstrating his ability to keep the McLaren drivers at bay while navigating the challenges of Suzuka’s high-speed corners. Although both Norris and Piastri had strong machinery and pace at their disposal, the difficulty of racing in dirty air meant they could not mount a serious challenge against the reigning world champion. Piastri, while competitive, opted to play it safe in his battle against Norris, settling for third place on his birthday—a commendable achievement amid the pressures of competitive racing.

Despite securing a double podium finish, McLaren’s drivers left the race feeling somewhat deflated, especially considering the team’s performance advantages on a track that played to their strengths. Meanwhile, aside from Antonelli’s impressive stint in the lead during the race, there was limited action throughout the midfield, which kept things relatively uneventful.

Hamilton, who had started on hard tyres, also aimed for a long first stint, hoping for a Safety Car to help him gain an advantage over the competition. This strategy paid off as he quietly secured seventh place, underscoring a weekend of relative stability for the Ferrari team.

Noteworthy is the fact that all 20 drivers completed the race for the first time in the 2025 season, providing a sense of relief for the circuit organizers who had previously faced challenges with grass fires during earlier race weekends. As teams and drivers look forward to the next chapter in Bahrain, fans will surely be anticipating an exhilarating contest as the season unfolds with each race becoming increasingly critical in the hunt for the championship title.

Japanese GP Result

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