Max Verstappen secured victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, held at the iconic Suzuka Circuit. The Red Bull driver dominated from start to finish, claiming his fourth consecutive win at this venue and his first of the season with a flawless performance from pole position.
Verstappen held onto the lead at the start and resisted pressure from the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The tension peaked during the pit stop phase when Norris attempted to overtake Verstappen at the pit exit and briefly ran onto the grass. Max kept his cool and maintained the lead all the way to the checkered flag.
The three-time world champion dictated the race pace throughout and once again showed why Suzuka is one of his strongest tracks.
Norris and Piastri completed the podium with a strong 2-3 finish, underlining McLaren’s consistency and competitiveness in this early part of the season.
George Russell finished fifth, while rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli came in sixth and set the fastest lap of the race. The young Italian even led briefly, becoming the youngest driver ever to do so.
Final Results – 2025 Japanese GP
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:22:06.983
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +1.423s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +2.129s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +16.097s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +17.362s
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +18.671s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +29.182s
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – +37.134s
- Alex Albon (Williams) – +40.367s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +54.529s
Verstappen’s win closes the gap in the championship to just one point behind leader Lando Norris. With McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes locked in a fierce battle, the upcoming round in Bahrain promises to add even more fire to what is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling seasons in recent memory.
