2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights

Introduction

Max Verstappen showcased his mastery at the Suzuka Circuit, clinching his first victory of the season in style at the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 🇯🇵. The reigning World Champion started from the pole and maintained a commanding lead despite intense pressure from the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen’s race wasn’t without drama, particularly during the pit stops. A tight exit with Norris caused some controversy, though stewards opted not to investigate further. Undeterred, Verstappen controlled the pace, steadily increasing his advantage over Norris as the race progressed.

In the closing laps, Piastri mounted a spirited challenge on Norris, forcing the McLaren driver to defend fiercely. However, Verstappen’s flawless drive secured him his 64th Grand Prix victory, reinforcing his championship ambitions.

Behind the leading trio, Charles Leclerc secured a solid fourth place for Ferrari, followed by the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who both showcased competitive form throughout the race.

Further down the field, Lewis Hamilton added points to Scuderia’s tally with a steady seventh-place finish, while rookie Isack Hadjar impressed with a well-deserved eighth place for Racing Bulls. Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman completed the points-scoring positions for Williams and Haas, respectively.

Notably, Yuki Tsunoda made his Red Bull debut, finishing 12th and earning the Driver of the Day accolade despite missing out on points. Pierre Gasly led Alpine in 13th, with Carlos Sainz and Jack Doohan securing positions for Williams and Alpine.

The race also marked a return to form for Nico Hulkenberg in 16th for Kick Sauber, while Liam Lawson finished 17th for Racing Bulls. Esteban Ocon and Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the finishers, with Lance Stroll completing the order in 20th for Aston Martin.

Verstappen’s victory now places him just one point behind Norris in the championship standings, setting the stage for an electrifying season ahead.

When the top six finish in the exact order they started, it’s tempting to write the race off as a snooze-fest. And while this wasn’t exactly a contender for “Greatest Grand Prix Ever,” there were still sparks of intensity throughout. Just look at qualifying: the top three were split by a razor-thin 44 thousandths of a second. Come race day, they crossed the line within two seconds of each other — proof that the fight at the front was far from dull.

The race unfolded in two distinct phases. The opening stint, especially through Sector 1 — notoriously brutal on tyres — was approached with measured caution. But once the halfway mark passed, the gloves came off. Fourteen of the twenty drivers clocked their fastest laps in the final five tours of the circuit. Antonelli’s blistering 1’30”965 wasn’t just the fastest of the race — it was a staggering 2.741 seconds quicker than Verstappen’s best lap from last year, highlighting the leap in performance this season.

Suzuka is usually a track where tyre degradation wreaks havoc, but not this time. Thanks to unusually low ambient and track temps — the coldest recorded here since 2011 — and a major step forward in the 2025 tyre compounds, drivers were able to push without a significant drop-off. Both the Hard and Medium tyres held up remarkably well, even over extended stints. And perhaps most impressively, despite the cool conditions, graining — one of the key issues we aimed to tackle with this year’s rubber — was virtually non-existent across the grid.

The day on the track:

The 15 drivers, all in the top eight rows, lined up on the starting grid, having chosen the Medium for the opening stint. The only exception was Hamilton, who opted for the Hard. On the back two rows, the places were split between Hard and Soft: Ocon and Bortoleto chose the C1, the hardest compound suitable for long stints, while Stroll and Doohan the C3, a softer compound offering better grip but wearing out faster.

According to Friday’s data analysis, almost the entire field was made just one stop, the quickest strategic option. The Hard compound was the near-universal choice for the second stint, although Sainz and Lawson ran the race without using the hardest tyres, opting for a Medium-Soft strategy instead. Stroll was the only driver to run all three compounds in a move that engaged the audience.

The longest stint of all came courtesy of Doohan, who ran a set of Hards for an impressive 38 laps, while Sainz and Lawson went all the way to lap 33 on the Medium before pitting.

2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Race Results

2025 Constructor Standings

Here are the team-by-team highlights: