Following a surprising qualifying session that saw Max Verstappen claim pole position and early morning rain creating damp track conditions, the F1 Japanese GP delivered another masterclass from the reigning champion.
Despite mounting pressure from both McLaren drivers throughout the race, Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka. Full results and report below.
It’s lights out at the F1 Japanese GP!
The race began under challenging conditions with a damp track following morning showers. Verstappen executed a perfect start, maintaining his lead against both McLarens despite complaining about upshift issues in his Red Bull. The tricky conditions at the first corner didn’t result in any incidents, with positions largely unchanged among the top 10.
Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto dropped to last place due to his hard tire strategy, while fellow newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli went straight through the chicane in the opening laps. Further back, Yuki Tsunoda passed Liam Lawson, and Carlos Sainz made an impressive move on Nico Hülkenberg into the hairpin.
Lewis Hamilton, who started on hard tires, began showing strong pace as his Mercedes came alive, overtaking Isack Hadjar for seventh position early in the race.
A battle at the pit exit
As the race settled, Verstappen maintained approximately a two-second gap to Norris, while Oscar Piastri stayed within DRS range of his teammate. McLaren informed their drivers that light drizzle was expected around lap 20, though not enough to impact racing conditions significantly.
The pivotal moment came during the pit stop sequence. McLaren called Norris in first, attempting to undercut Verstappen. When Red Bull responded the following lap, Verstappen and Norris emerged side by side at the pit exit. In the ensuing battle, Norris was forced onto the grass, costing him valuable time and prompting radio complaints from the British driver.
Antonelli makes history
During the pit sequence, Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli briefly led the race, becoming the youngest race leader in Formula 1 history. Though unable to challenge for victory, Antonelli demonstrated impressive pace throughout the event.
Lewis Hamilton, running an alternate strategy, held second place for several laps before pitting. When Verstappen approached Hamilton in the chicane, the seven-time champion locked up before entering the pits, slightly reducing Verstappen’s lead over the pursuing Norris.
Papaya rules! Right?
As the race progressed, McLaren faced another internal dilemma with Piastri closing rapidly on Norris, who couldn’t significantly reduce the gap to Verstappen. This created pressure for potential team orders, reminiscent of previous races this season.
Verstappen skillfully managed the gap to keep Norris just outside DRS range in the closing stages, preventing any serious challenge for the lead. Meanwhile, Piastri appeared to back off slightly in the final laps, maintaining team harmony.
With three laps remaining, Verstappen maintained his advantage of just over a second, expertly denying Norris any opportunity to use DRS. The Dutch champion crossed the line first to secure his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix victory, a fitting tribute in what was billed as the final Honda home race.
The McLaren duo completed the podium with Norris second and Piastri third, followed by Charles Leclerc and George Russell. Antonelli impressed with a sixth-place finish, taking home two “youngest ever” records. Hamilton finished seventh, with rookie Isack Hadjar scoring his first points in eighth. Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten.
F1 Japanese GP Race Results
- Max Verstappen
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Charles Leclerc
- George Russell
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Lewis Hamilton
- Isack Hadjar
- Alex Albon
- Ollie Bearman
- Fernando Alonso
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Pierre Gasly
- Carlos Sainz
- Jack Doohan
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Liam Lawson
- Esteban Ocon
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Lance Stroll
