Max Verstappen kicked off his 2025 campaign in style by taking a hard-fought victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, keeping the two McLarens at bay to cross the line just 1.4 seconds ahead.
Starting from pole after a record-breaking qualifying lap, the Red Bull star delivered a calm and composed drive, maintaining control at the front despite relentless pressure from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Neither McLaren driver could find a way past, despite staying within striking distance for most of the race.
Verstappen opened up a two-second cushion early on, enough to stay out of DRS range and neutralize any immediate threat. McLaren tried to shake things up with a dummy pit call for Norris, hinting at an undercut attempt. While Verstappen didn’t bite, McLaren pulled the trigger by bringing Piastri in on Lap 20.
Red Bull responded by pitting Verstappen, but Norris followed suit. McLaren gained nearly a second in the stop, putting Norris side-by-side with Verstappen at pit exit. However, the Brit ran out of room and had to go over the grass, later reporting the incident over team radio—though the stewards chose not to investigate.
Over the remaining 30 laps, Norris couldn’t close the gap or get back into DRS range. Meanwhile, Piastri sat just behind, hinting at a potential swap given his stronger pace. McLaren opted not to switch their drivers, allowing Verstappen to drive unchallenged to the chequered flag, with both McLarens joining him on the podium.
Behind them, Charles Leclerc held on to fourth for Ferrari, just ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, who mounted a late charge but ran out of laps. Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressed with a long stint on medium tyres to take sixth, just behind his teammate.
Lewis Hamilton’s alternate strategy—starting on hards—netted him seventh, as he got the better of F1 newcomer Isack Hadjar, who scored his first career points in eighth.
Alex Albon finished ninth despite venting frustrations over his Williams’ gearshifts and pit timing, while Haas rookie Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten, finishing just ahead of Fernando Alonso and Red Bull debutant Yuki Tsunoda. Liam Lawson, returning to Racing Bulls, came home in 17th.
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