The real world champion claimed his 64th career grand prize victory, ahead of McLaren’s Randnoris and Oscar Piastri.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen claimed that Red Bull won the pole two flag, Japan’s Grand Prix, with McLaren’s Landnoris finishing second in the 2025 season.
The Dutch driver crossed the finish line in almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris.
The wet but dry track victory at Suzuka was Verstappen’s fourth victory in Japan, earning one point Norris’ gap at the top of the driver’s championship.
Verstappen said:
“It was so much fun, but pushing the tires wasn’t easy, I’m incredibly happy.
“I was able to win by starting with the pole.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ranked fourth over George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes pair.
Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari came in seventh, with Red Bull’s Isaac Hajar ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon and Haas’s Oliver Baerman.
Since replacing Liam Lawson, Tsunoda finished 12th in Red Bull’s first race and began in 14th on the home grand prix grid. Lawson was 17th in the RB.
Pit stop getting used to
Verstappen and Norris were involved in the Flashpoint mid-race as the two Frontrunners emerged from the pit stop.
Norris drew it along with Verstappen, but the Dutch refused to be upset, Norris was pushed against the grass before returning to the truck.
Norris said, “He drove me away,” but Verstappen said he was not responsible for his team.
“He drove himself on the grass,” Verstappen said.
The Steward reviewed the incident and decided not to investigate further.
Verstappen struggled to grasp Red Bull this season, finishing second in Australia and fourth in China.
However, he took off the lap for his qualifying age at Suzuka and picked up Norris to win the first pole of the season on track record.
Verstappen escaped neatly from Norris and Piastri on the first turn, but little changed to the grid.
The Dutch quickly established control by laying down the fastest laps, and his lead grew in the early parts of the race.
Antoneri, 18-year-old rookie, took the lead temporarily, and Verstappen and Norris became Formula One’s youngest race leaders ever.
Verstappen quickly regained the lead, and his team gave him a green light to push him to the end of the race.
The two McLarens stayed on his tail, and Piastri told his team “I have the pace to get a max.” However, Verstappen was not caught.
The situation in Suzuka had been dry for a week, with a series of small trackside fires halting several times, but earlier Sunday removed the possibility of rain being repeated in the race.
Lando Norris is in third place with 62 points in the top position of the 2025 F1 drivers, with 61 for Verstappen, and Piastri, with 49 for third.
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