By 
Max Verstappen reminded the world why he’s still the reigning king of Formula 1.
After a slower-than-usual start to his 2025 campaign, the Dutchman answered his critics with a controlled, confident drive to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix. It marked his first win of the season—and his fourth consecutive triumph at Suzuka, a track that continues to bring out the best in him.
Max Verstappen celebrating his first win of the 2025 season at the Japanese Grand Prix
This wasn’t a lights-to-flag cruise, though. Far from it.
From the get-go, Max Verstappen looked dialed in. He got the perfect launch from pole and led the field into Turn 1, but behind him, Lando Norris was locked in and ready to fight. The McLaren driver pushed hard all race long, staying within striking distance and keeping the pressure on. It all built to a dramatic moment midway through the race, when both drivers dived into the pits on the same lap. As they exited pit lane, they came out side by side—mere inches between the two cars.
It was a heart-in-mouth moment, but Verstappen stayed composed, held his line, and crucially, held the lead. That moment, more than any other, showed just how cool and calculated he still is under pressure. Once clear, he didn’t look back, steadily managing the gap to Norris to bring home the win.
“I needed that,” Verstappen said afterward. “It’s been a tricky start to the year, but we worked hard this weekend, and I felt totally in sync with the car today.”
For McLaren, the double podium was still a major success. Oscar Piastri followed his teammate home to take P3, giving the team another solid points haul. Team orders came into play late in the race, with McLaren choosing to hold position and avoid any unnecessary risk between their two drivers. It was a pragmatic decision in a season that looks set to be a long and tight fight for both titles.
Behind the top three, Charles Leclerc quietly delivered in P4 for Ferrari. The Monegasque kept himself in the mix throughout the race, but Ferrari just didn’t quite have the pace to challenge the McLarens or Red Bull up front. Mercedes had a mixed afternoon. George Russell secured P5 after a well-managed race, while Kimi Antonelli continues to impress in his rookie season. The Italian teenager finished sixth and added an exclamation mark to his day by setting the fastest lap. There’s growing buzz around Antonelli, and today only added to it. He’s showing maturity and speed far beyond his years.
And speaking of drivers in new colors— Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, brought his car home in seventh after a fairly quiet race. It wasn’t the standout result fans might have hoped for, but there’s still plenty of time in the season for Hamilton to settle in and make his mark in red.
Yuki comes home with a new ambition and role
For the home crowd, all eyes were on Yuki Tsunoda as he made his debut with the senior Red Bull team. Expectations were high, and while the pace was promising in practice, Tsunoda couldn’t quite put it together on race day. He finished 12th—outside the points—but there’s little doubt the support from the Japanese fans made it a weekend to remember for him personally.
Yuki Tsunoda preparing before his first race with Red Bull Racing in 2025
As for the championship standings, things are starting to tighten up. Norris still leads the Drivers’ Championship with 62 points, but Verstappen’s win brings him just one point behind. Piastri isn’t far off either, and with four races down, we’ve got a proper title battle on our hands. McLaren remains atop the Constructors’ standings with 111 points, followed by Mercedes and Red Bull. But with Red Bull seemingly turning a corner, it’s clear this story is just getting started.
In the Midfield, Bearman Steals the Spotlight
While the headlines were about Verstappen’s resurgence, one of the most impressive drives of the day came from the midfield—specifically, from Haas’s Oliver Bearman. The 19-year-old Brit put in another mature, gritty performance to bring home a valuable point for his team with a tenth-place finish. It might not have grabbed global headlines, but for Haas and Bearman, it was a huge result. Starting from P10 after a brilliant qualifying run—his first time making it into Q3—Bearman was under pressure from the moment the lights went out. He held position through Turn 1, stayed calm through the early battles, and committed to a smart one-stop strategy.
Oliver Bearman racing at Japanese Grand Prix 2025
The second half of the race was all about defense. Bearman came under fire from quicker cars on fresher tires, but he didn’t flinch. Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, and a charging DRS train were all breathing down his neck in the final laps, but Bearman held firm.
“It was tough out there,” he said after the race. “The degradation kicked in hard in the second stint, and I had to really stay focused. But I’m proud of the team and happy we got the point.” Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu praised the drive as “disciplined and mature,” adding that Bearman continues to exceed expectations in his rookie campaign. This marks Bearman’s second points finish of the season and signals that he’s not just one for the future—he’s already showing he belongs on the grid.
Rookie impression
After a rocky start to his Formula 1 career, French-Algerian rookie Isack Hadjar finally had his breakthrough moment at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix — and it couldn’t have come at a more iconic venue than Suzuka. Hadjar delivered a calm, composed drive to finish eighth, scoring his first-ever F1 points for Racing Bulls. Starting from seventh on the grid, he battled it out with big names like Kimi Antonelli and even found himself tailing his childhood hero, Lewis Hamilton, by the end of the race.
Isack Hadjar at the Japanese Grand Prix 2025
But what made Hadjar’s performance even more remarkable was what he had to endure just 24 hours earlier. During qualifying, a twisted seatbelt caused excruciating pain in a rather delicate area, turning the whole session into, in his own words, “a nightmare.” Still, he powered through and made it into Q3 — a testament to both his resilience and raw pace. This was a much-needed confidence boost after a rough couple of races: spinning out on the formation lap in Australia and narrowly missing out on points in China. Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar for his faultless execution over 53 laps at one of the sport’s toughest tracks. Meanwhile, teammate Liam Lawson struggled, finishing down in 17th, while Max Verstappen took a commanding win ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. For Hadjar though, this was a turning point — proof that he belongs on this grid. And the smile he wore after the checkered flag? Absolutely deserved.
Up Next: Bahrain
Authored by: Taniish Pujara
Comments