Breaking: Furious Verstappen and Norris battle produces shock…read more

Furious Verstappen and Norris battle produces shock…read more

Max Verstappen secured a dominant victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, triumphing from pole position at the Suzuka International Circuit. The win was a significant moment for the Dutchman, marking his first victory of the season after a challenging start to the year. Verstappen had struggled with the performance of the RB21 earlier in the season, but his performance in Japan announced a remarkable comeback, with his Suzuka win also marking his fourth consecutive victory at the venue.

Despite the victory, Verstappen remains second in the drivers’ standings, just one point behind McLaren’s Lando Norris. The British driver did everything he could to challenge for the win, even engaging in an intense battle with Verstappen that saw him take the fight to the grass at one point. However, it was Verstappen who ultimately crossed the finish line first, reaffirming his dominance at Suzuka, a track where he has long been regarded as one of the sport’s most successful drivers.

The race featured plenty of drama, with Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli leading at one point after a dramatic pit stop. Antonelli managed to hold off the legendary seven-time champion, Lewis Hamilton, who was driving for Ferrari. However, after both pitted, the top three positions remained unchanged, with Verstappen, Norris, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri eventually resuming their positions at the front. Piastri, who had been quicker than his teammate Norris in the latter stages of the race, radioed his team to express his belief that he had the pace to challenge Verstappen. Despite this, McLaren did not initiate their “papaya rules” to let Piastri through, and Verstappen remained unchallenged at the front.

Verstappen’s win at Suzuka was a significant moment not only for his personal championship aspirations but also for Red Bull’s partnership with Honda. The Japanese Grand Prix served as a special farewell to this collaboration, as it marked the final race in Japan before the end of the partnership between the two entities. Verstappen described his victory as the “perfect send-off” for this important chapter in Red Bull’s motorsport history.

In the race’s final standings, Verstappen finished in first place with a time of 1:31.548, securing a comfortable 1.423-second lead over Norris, who crossed the line in second. Piastri finished in third, just 0.706 seconds behind Norris, completing a strong showing for McLaren. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took the fourth position, finishing 16.097 seconds behind Verstappen, while George Russell of Mercedes completed the top five, 17.362 seconds behind the winner.

Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes rookie, ended up in sixth place, just 18.671 seconds adrift of Verstappen. He was followed by Lewis Hamilton, who crossed the line in seventh, 29.182 seconds behind the race winner. The rest of the points-paying positions were filled by Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, Alex Albon of Williams, and Oliver Bearman of Haas, who rounded out the top 10, with respective gaps to Verstappen ranging from 37.134 seconds to 54.529 seconds.

Notable retirements and finishers outside the points included Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in 11th, Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull in 12th, and Pierre Gasly of Alpine in 13th. Carlos Sainz of Williams finished in 14th, and the race’s final retirements included Jack Doohan, Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Lance Stroll, with Stroll being the only driver to finish a lap down.

A notable rule change for 2025 also impacted the race, as the points for the fastest lap were removed. Since 2019, drivers who set the fastest lap and finished in the top 10 earned an extra point, but this incentive no longer applies for the 2025 season.

Verstappen’s win at the Japanese Grand Prix has once again put him in the championship hunt, with only one point separating him from the current leader, Norris. The dramatic battle between the two rivals is expected to continue throughout the season, with both drivers displaying impressive performances as they fight for the 2025 drivers’ title.