Verstappen back on top: victory at the Japanese Grand Prix
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2025 season at the Japanese Grand Prix, outpacing McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. At the Suzuka circuit, he maintained the lead in the final laps of the race, despite aggressive challenges from the McLaren drivers.
Right from the start, Max Verstappen, who began from pole position, quickly seized the lead but encountered gear-shifting issues in the early laps. Norris, starting from second, gradually closed the gap on the leader, while Piastri held third place. During the pit stops, McLaren attempted to use strategy to overtake Verstappen, but it did not yield the desired result.
After the pit stops, Norris and Verstappen exited simultaneously, leading to a minor incident at the pit lane exit—Norris ran onto the grass, accusing Verstappen of pushing him off. However, the stewards made no decision on the incident, and the race continued.
Despite aggressive attacks from McLaren, Verstappen managed to hold the lead to the finish, winning with a margin of 1.423 seconds. Norris finished second, and Piastri completed the podium. This marks the first victory for Verstappen and Red Bull in the 2025 season, a significant achievement for the team, who hadn't won previously.
The conclusion of the race served as yet another reminder that the battle between McLaren and Red Bull in the 2025 season continues to intensify.
