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2025 F1 Japanese GP
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2025 F1 Japanese GP – Weekend Roundup

Sabrina Bonini

The 2025 F1 Japanese GP marked the season’s first quiet note—a weekend that promised fireworks but delivered more of a simmer. While the on-track action may not have thrilled, it was still a significant outing, especially for Max Verstappen, who clinched his first pole since Austria 2024 and converted it into a commanding maiden win of the season.

The home crowd had their eyes on Yuki Tsunoda in his Red Bull debut, but despite a promising showing in free practice and clearing Q1, he could only manage P15 on the grid and P12 at the flag. The two McLarens joined Verstappen on the podium, but neither could disrupt the Dutchman’s comeback.

Beyond the podium, there were flashes of drama—most notably a heavy crash for Alpine rookie Jack Doohan in FP2, and a string of red flags caused by sparks igniting the parched Suzuka grass.

The Paddock Headlines

  • Verstappen back on top – Max Verstappen took his first win of 2025 and his first pole since the Austrian GP in July 2024, delivering a masterclass all weekend at the 2025 F1 Japanese GP.
  • McLaren within touching distance – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified just 0.012s and 0.044s behind Verstappen respectively, but couldn’t quite convert that into victory.
  • History for Antonelli – Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to lead a Formula 1 race after emerging at the front post-pit stop—a short-lived but symbolic moment.
  • Hadjar leads the ‘Red Bull reject’ pack – Isack Hadjar scored four points in Japan, his first as an F1 driver, outpacing both Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson. He’s now ahead of both in the standings.
  • Rookie rise continues – Bearman, Hadjar, and Antonelli all finished in the top 10—another strong showing from F1’s freshest faces.
  • Doohan’s costly error – A heavy shunt for Jack Doohan in FP2 after failing to close his DRS into Turn 1 cut his weekend short and drew early red flags.
  • Suzuka scorched – A bizarre pattern of small fires broke out across the weekend, as sparks from the cars ignited the bone-dry grass, causing multiple red flag interruptions.
  • Albon in the points, Sainz penalised – Alex Albon brought home valuable points for Williams. Carlos Sainz, however, struggled after receiving a three-place grid drop for impeding Hamilton in qualifying.

Fiery Practice Sessions and Rookie Drama at Suzuka

Free Practice kicked off under typically bright Suzuka skies, but calm quickly gave way to chaos.

The headline coming into the weekend was Yuki Tsunoda’s long-awaited debut in Red Bull colours after the controversial mid-season seat swap with Liam Lawson. The home hero impressed early on, lapping just a tenth off Verstappen in the first session—a promising start in front of an adoring Japanese crowd.

It was McLaren’s Lando Norris who topped the timing sheets in FP1, ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.

Red Flags, Rookie Woes, and Unexpected Fires

Then came FP2—and the weekend’s first major drama. Just 10 minutes in, Alpine rookie Jack Doohan suffered a heavy crash at Turn 1 after failing to close his DRS. At Suzuka, the DRS doesn’t automatically close into the fast first corner as there’s no braking zone, meaning it’s up to the driver. Doohan’s misjudgement sent him spinning off into the barriers, destroying his car but thankfully leaving him unhurt. Alpine confirmed the cause post-session, and with that, his weekend was all but over.

After a lengthy red flag delay, the session resumed but the chaos wasn’t over. Fernando Alonso beached his Aston Martin at Turn 8 after dipping a wheel onto the grass. Then, just minutes later, a small fire broke out at the side of the track, triggered by sparks igniting the dry grass. Another red flag. And, spoiler alert: this wouldn’t be the last blaze of the weekend.

When FP2 finally wrapped up, it was Piastri and Norris leading the way, with Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar an impressive third—his strong adaptation continuing to turn heads.

FP3 offered a reprieve from major incidents but not from the now-familiar trackside fires, with more red flags interrupting proceedings. On pace, McLaren stayed dominant, Norris topping the session again, followed by Russell’s Mercedes in third.

Max Verstappen Steals the Spotlight in Qualifying

Qualifying at Suzuka delivered a genuine surprise—mostly because even Max didn’t see it coming. After a rocky start to 2025, Verstappen stormed to a sensational pole position in the dying moments of Q3, beating both McLarens by the narrowest of margins.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had looked like the ones to beat throughout Q1 and Q2, with Piastri initially topping the first runs in the top-ten shootout. Norris then put himself provisionally on pole—until Verstappen pulled out a stunner of a lap: 1:26.983, just 0.012s faster than Norris, with Piastri a further three hundredths behind.

Even Max seemed caught off guard by the performance. When asked in the post-qualifying press conference to describe the feeling in the cockpit, he grinned and quipped:

“The sensation? Well, I’m happy that I’m first! Maybe if you want to drive the car, you can give it a go. I think you’re going to poop your pants.”

He added, more seriously:

“It’s not easy, but we clearly found a drivable balance. Around here you need to be very committed—especially in Sector 1.”

The effort drew praise even from the sport’s veterans. Fernando Alonso called it a “magical moment,” telling reporters:

“Only he can do it. I think there is no other driver right now who can drive a car and put it so high—maybe even higher than it deserves.”

Youth in the Mix and Yuki’s Home Struggles

Behind the front three, Charles Leclerc led the Ferrari charge in P4, with George Russell fifth for Mercedes. Rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed once again with a strong P6, while Isack Hadjar’s purple patch continued—he secured P7 for Racing Bulls.

Lewis Hamilton, still settling into his new Ferrari surroundings, managed P8, just ahead of Alex Albon’s Williams and the third rookie in Q3, Ollie Bearman, who rounded out the top ten.

Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull debut qualifying ended in disappointment. He exited in Q2 and could only manage P15, behind the very man he replaced—Liam Lawson—who qualified P14 for Racing Bulls.

Notable Q2 exits included Pierre Gasly in P11 and Fernando Alonso in P13. Carlos Sainz initially qualified P12 but was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Hamilton, dropping him to 15th for the race.

Qualifying Starting 4:

P1: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:26.983
P2: Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:26.995
P3: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:27.027
P4: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:27.299

A Masterclass from Verstappen at Suzuka’s Race

The Suzuka circuit was still damp from overnight rain, but hopes of a weather shake-up fizzled out quickly. What followed was—by most accounts—the sleepiest Grand Prix of the season so far.

The start was clean and uneventful, with no major shake-ups until pit stops began around lap 22. The most dramatic moment came when Verstappen and Norris pitted simultaneously. Both exited together, but Norris ran out of road trying to pass and had to concede, leaving Verstappen in control from then on.

McLaren’s strategy looked solid on paper, but the execution left them stuck behind a Red Bull that seemed to have found its balance again. The result? Max took a lights-to-flag win with barely a sweat.

Tsunoda Holds His Ground, Antonelli Makes History

Further down the order, Yuki Tsunoda passed Liam Lawson at the start and held steady in P12. It was not enough for points, but a respectable Red Bull debut in front of his home crowd. Lawson, in contrast, faded to P17.

The highlight from the midfield was Kimi Antonelli, who led the race for a few laps after the pit stop cycle—a brief moment of glory, but one for the record books. At just 18, he’s now the youngest driver to lead a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Radio Drama and Rookie Resilience

With little action on track, the radios offered most of the entertainment. Alex Albon was particularly vocal, venting frustration over car handling and pit decisions. Fans were quick to meme it into existence.

Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri stirred intra-team tension with a late-race message:

“If Lando is still saving, I think he should go soon. I think I have the pace to get Max.”

Cue a tense final few laps where Piastri slipped into DRS range behind Norris, but neither could make a dent in Verstappen’s lead.

The Final Order: Max Wins His 64th Grand Prix

Verstappen cruised to his 64th career win and fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka on the 2025 F1 Japanese GP, finishing just 1.4s ahead of Norris, with Piastri—who celebrated his 24th birthday on race day in Japan—a further seven tenths behind.

Rookies impressed once again: Antonelli (P6), Hadjar (P8), and Bearman (P10) all scored solid points. Albon brought home P9 for Williams, capping off a rollercoaster weekend.

Ferrari’s weekend, meanwhile, was forgettable—Leclerc finished P4, a distant 16 seconds behind the leaders, and Hamilton couldn’t find a way past Antonelli, settling for P7.

Not the most thrilling race, but certainly one with signs of a Red Bull and Verstappen’s resurgence and perhaps a few warning bells for McLaren, who had the pace but not the answers.

Race Top 4 Finishers:

P1: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:22:06.983
P2: Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:22:08.406
P3: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:22:09.112
P4: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:22:23.080

Next up: Bahrain, 11–13 April, as the triple-header continues and the Feeder Series return for Round 2.

Feature Image Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

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