- SUZUKA — Max
Verstappen scored his first victory of the 2025 season with a masterful drive
to P1 in the Japanese Grand Prix, the World Champion holding off the McLaren
pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim a fourth consecutive win at the
Suzuka Circuit.
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- In terms of the championship, Verstappen’s victory means
that he is now just one point behind Norris at the top of the standings, with
Piastri moving up to third ahead of Russell.
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- "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.
Also read: F1: Verstappen claims pole in Japanese GP Qualifying ahead of McLarens
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- "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," Verstappen said, as quoted by F1.
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- Norris’ second place looked to potentially be under threat
from his teammate in the closing stages, but, as the Australian’s challenge
fell away in the final tours, the positions remained the same, with Piastri
having to settle for third on his 24th birthday.
-
- "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.
-
- "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," said
Norris.
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- Charles Leclerc claimed fourth for Ferrari, ahead of the
Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, the latter of whom enjoyed
an impressive run in the lead during the pit stop phase after going long for
his opening stint.
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- Lewis Hamilton added to the Scuderia’s tally in the seventh,
while rookie Isack Hadjar clinched his first points of the season with a solid
drive for Racing Bulls in the eighth. Alex Albon followed in the ninth for
Williams, with Haas’ Ollie Bearman claiming the final point on offer in 10th.
