Verstappen dominates in Japan
Image: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
The early wake up call was worth it. Max Verstappen took his first win of the 2025 season at Suzuka ahead of the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, despite having the faster car. It wasn’t the most exciting Formula One race ever but it did produce some very interesting talking points. Here are the highlights from the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
The lion roars once again
Image: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
It was a brilliant weekend for Max Verstappen as he took his 64th career win at Suzuka. His speed was evident on Saturday as the Dutchman claimed pole position by just twelve milliseconds ahead of Lando Norris. Considering the Red Bull is most likely the third, maybe even the fourth, best car, Verstappen’s 41st pole was one of his finest.
Although many arguments have been made that Verstappen has the fourth/fifth best car, it was certainly clear that Red Bull were the 2nd fastest on this fine weekend in Japan.
The same can’t be said for Yuki Tsunoda, who on his Red Bull debut, finished outside the points in P12. Although he made his way through the competitive midfield, the 24-year-old failed to score points on debut, much like his predecessor Liam Lawson.
Red Bull currently sit P3 in the constructors standing, with Mercedes and McLaren ahead. Whether the team’s position improves or even worsens will depend on the support of the 2nd driver, a seat which an experienced Yuki Tsunoda occupies. Let’s hope little Yuki can withstand the cutthroat wrath of Red Bull’s driver program.
Tearing up the Papaya rulebook
Image: @McLarenF1 on Twitter/X
It was a confusing weekend for McLaren as they walked away with a 2-3 finish which could have easily been its 51st 1-2 finish in Formula One. Whilst Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were electric all weekend, they both lacked that little bit extra that saw Verstappen take P1.
Norris in particular struggled following his pitstop incident with Verstappen, resulting in the Brit having to take a small excursion onto the grass at the pitlane exit. This arguably was Norris’ one and only chance to jump Verstappen and instead it seemed to dent his confidence, despite McLaren having the better car in terms of race pace.
In the closing stages of the race, Piastri cut chunks off his deficit to his teammate ahead in P2, leaving the top three separated by just two seconds.
McLaren instructed Oscar to hold his P3 position despite reports from the Aussie driver that he was indeed faster and could try to overtake Verstappen. Whether Piastri was actually faster than Verstappen will forever be an unanswered question. One thing is for sure, McLaren’s driver dynamic will certainly change this season.
Isack Had-points-jar
Image: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Scoring points only three races into your Formula One career isn’t for everybody. For Isack Hadjar, he scored four valuable points for Racing Bulls, fighting Lewis Hamilton wheel-to-wheel for some portions of the Grand Prix.
Anorak fact: Hadjar’s performance makes him the joint-twelfth youngest points scorer, at 20 years, six months, and nine days. He joins Esteban Ocon, who scored his first points at the exact same age at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix.
Despite the news regarding the second Red Bull seat, Hadjar has remained calm and put in a brilliant performance, something which won’t go unnoticed to the higher ups at Milton Keynes.
With the Bahrain GP just a few days away, we’re sure that the intense championship fight will continue for many races to come.
Be sure to follow it all on Race Reaction.
Full race classification
1 - Max VERSTAPPEN
2 - Lando NORRIS
3 - Oscar PIASTRI
4 - Charles LECLERC
5 - George RUSSELL
6 - Andrea Kimi ANTONELLI
7 - Lewis HAMILTON
8 - Isack HADJAR
9 - Alexander ALBON
10 - Oliver BEARMAN
11 - Fernando ALONSO
12 - Yuki TSUNODA
13 - Pierre GASLY
14 - Carlos SAINZ
15 - Jack DOOHAN
16 - Nico HULKENBERG
17 - Liam LAWSON
18 - Esteban OCON
19 - Gabriel BORTOLETO
20 - Lance STROLL
