Formula 1’s 2025 Japanese Grand Prix Race Review
The 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix delivered another dramatic chapter in an already thrilling season, as F1 returned to the fast, flowing corners of Suzuka. With Max Verstappen starting from pole and both McLarens hot on his heels, fans were treated to a tense strategic showdown, wheel-to-wheel battles, and a crucial turning point in the championship race. As ever, Suzuka didn’t disappoint.
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2025 Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying
Qualifying at the legendary Suzuka Circuit delivered a classic dose of late-session drama, with Max Verstappen pulling out a stunner to snatch pole position for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. The reigning World Champion set a blistering lap of 1:26.983 in the dying seconds of Q3, edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.012s to secure his first pole since Austria 2024—and his fourth in a row at Suzuka.
McLaren looked strong throughout the session, with Oscar Piastri topping Q1 and Norris leading Q2. Piastri even held provisional pole after the first Q3 runs with a 1:27.052, but Verstappen’s final effort proved untouchable. Norris improved on his second run to briefly take P1 before Verstappen’s flyer relegated him to second. Piastri ultimately settled for third, just 0.044s off pole.
Charles Leclerc was the lead Ferrari in fourth, while George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli locked out the third row for Mercedes in fifth and sixth, respectively. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, despite cockpit discomfort and a challenging Q1, recovered well to secure an impressive seventh.
Lewis Hamilton qualified eighth for Ferrari after a slide in Q3, with Alexander Albon placing ninth for Williams. Rounding out the top ten was Haas’ Oliver Bearman, enjoying his best Qualifying result yet.
Yuki Tsunoda, in his first Qualifying appearance as a Red Bull driver on home soil, was eliminated in Q2 and will start 15th. His predecessor at Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson, outqualified him in 14th but also failed to reach Q3. Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz (who was hit with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Hamilton), and Fernando Alonso also dropped out in Q2.
Top Ten Qualifiers:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:26.983 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:26.995 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:27.027 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:27.299 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:27.318 |
| 6 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:27.555 |
| 7 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:27.569 |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:27.610 |
| 9 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.615 |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:27.867 |
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Race Review
Celebratory team photos always turn into chaos 🤣 @redbullracing #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/Dfh6zch0TI
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
Max Verstappen returned to the top step of the podium with a commanding drive at Suzuka, claiming his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix victory and his first win of the 2025 season. Starting from pole, Verstappen controlled the race from start to finish, fending off pressure from both McLaren drivers in what turned out to be a tightly contested race among the front three.
The key moment came during the pit stop phase. Both Verstappen and Lando Norris dove into the pits on the same lap and exited side by side—an aggressive release from Red Bull forcing Norris to take to the grass. The McLaren driver fumed on the radio, claiming he was pushed off, but Verstappen insisted he held his line. The stewards investigated and ruled it a racing incident with no further action.
Behind Verstappen, Norris and Oscar Piastri engaged in their own tense battle for second. Piastri applied late pressure, forcing Norris to push harder in the final stint, but there was no position change. Verstappen crossed the line 1.4 seconds clear of Norris, with Piastri just another seven-tenths behind to complete the podium.
Charles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari with a quiet but solid drive, while George Russell came home fifth ahead of teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who once again impressed with his consistency and poise under pressure. Antonelli also claimed the fastest lap of the race, becoming the youngest driver in F1 history to do so.
Lewis Hamilton finished seventh, unable to mount a challenge after losing ground during the pit cycles. Isack Hadjar brought home four points for Racing Bulls with an impressive eighth-place finish, and Alexander Albon secured ninth for Williams. Rounding out the points was Haas rookie Oliver Bearman, continuing his momentum from recent races.
Yuki Tsunoda, in his first Japanese Grand Prix driving for Red Bull, finished 12th but was voted Driver of the Day by fans for his spirited performance in front of the home crowd. His teammate Verstappen’s victory has now closed the gap in the championship standings, as the title race continues to tighten.
Kimi Antonellis recorded the Fastest Lap adding to his impressive start to the season for Mercedes.
Kimi was leaving nothing on the table at Suzuka 🔥#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/500c8yk5tI
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Final Race Classification:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time/Gap | Points |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:22:06.983 | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | +1.423s | 18 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | +2.129s | 15 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +16.097s | 12 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | +17.362s | 10 |
| 6 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +18.671s | 8 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +29.182s | 6 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | +37.134s | 4 |
| 9 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | +40.367s | 2 |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | +54.529s | 1 |
| 11 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | +64.602s | 0 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | +68.249s | 0 |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | +74.386s | 0 |
| 14 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams Mercedes | +79.471s | 0 |
| 15 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | +81.923s | 0 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | +83.201s | 0 |
| 17 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | +84.599s | 0 |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | +85.319s | 0 |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | +1 lap | 0 |
| 20 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | +1 lap | 0 |
Verstappen’s flawless performance at Suzuka reminded the paddock why he’s still the benchmark, but McLaren’s relentless pursuit proved that the fight at the front is far from over. With three different winners in the opening four rounds, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years. The championship momentum now shifts quickly, as teams head to the Bahrain International Circuit for Round 5 of the season next weekend. Expect more fireworks in the desert.
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