Daijiworld Media Network - Suzuka
Suzuka, Apr 6: Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, securing his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The reigning World Champion expertly navigated the challenging Suzuka Circuit to claim the top spot, successfully fending off the persistent McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, marking his fourth consecutive win at this iconic track.
This triumph has significant implications for the championship standings. Verstappen's victory places him just a single point behind Norris, who currently leads the drivers' standings. Piastri's third-place finish propels him up to third, overtaking Russell in the process.
Reflecting on his hard-fought win, Verstappen commented, "It was tough, pushing very hard. The two McLarens were pushing me very hard so was a lot of fun out there. I'm incredibly happy. It started out tough this weekend, but we didn't give up, kept improving the car and starting on pole, could win the race."
He further emphasized the importance of maximizing performance, stating, "It is important to maximise your performance, and we did that very well this weekend. (Suzuka) means a lot to me. I knew I needed to try and stay ahead, in our final farewell race to Honda in Japan. This is the perfect send-off." These remarks were reported by F1.
Norris, who secured a strong second place, faced a potential challenge from his McLaren teammate in the latter stages of the race. However, Piastri's push faded in the final laps, allowing Norris to maintain his position. Piastri ultimately finished third on his 24th birthday.
Acknowledging Verstappen's victory, Norris said, "I guess I just lost out yesterday. Max drove a good race today, made no mistakes. A flat-out race from start to finish, so it was tough but there was nothing we could get Max on."
He also commented on an incident in the pit lane, stating, "The (pit lane incident) was racing. Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space, in a good way, in a racing way. They deserved it this weekend. They are quick; they have been catching up and as a team, we didn't have enough this weekend, so we need to work hard."
Charles Leclerc secured fourth position for Ferrari, leading the Mercedes pair of George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli enjoyed an impressive stint in the lead during the pit stop phase after opting for a longer initial run.
Lewis Hamilton added to Ferrari's points tally with a seventh-place finish. Rookie driver Isack Hadjar celebrated his first points of the season with a solid eighth-place drive for Racing Bulls. Alex Albon followed in ninth for Williams, while Haas' Ollie Bearman claimed the final point in tenth.