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Verstappen holds off Norris and Piastri to win Japanese Grand Prix

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1 daysMotorsport

Max Verstappen fended off challenges from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim his first win of 2025 at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Dutchman, who started on pole, won for a fourth consecutive year at Suzuka, finishing 1.4 seconds ahead of Norris, with Piastri crossing the line less than a second after his McLaren team-mate.

It moves Verstappen within one point of the drivers' championship leader, Norris, while Piastri moved up to third in the standings.

Verstappen remained cool under the intense pressure, with McLaren unable to find an opening, though Norris came closest after pitting at the same time as the Red Bull driver.

The Brit's stop was faster by a second, and he exited the pit almost side by side with Verstappen, though Norris ran out of track, going onto the grass.

He complained, saying he was "forced off", while the four-time world champion said Norris had driven off by himself, with stewards agreeing and deciding not to investigate.

From then on, Verstappen remained in control, and the drivers crossed the line in the order they had held all race.

In fact, the top six finished as they started, with Charles Leclerc holding off George Russell to finish fourth, while Kimi Antonelli, who led his first laps in a Formula One race, got sixth after a strong finish.

Lewis Hamilton took seventh from eighth place on the grid, having overtaken Racing Bull's Isack Hadjar early on. Meanwhile, in his first race for Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his home Grand Prix.

Data Debrief: Verstappen off the mark

Verstappen had endured a disappointing practice session at Suzuka, but since then, he has improved over the weekend to get up and running for the 2025 season.

He is the first driver to win four consecutive Japanese Grands Prix in history.

That result should maybe have been expected though. Seven of the last eight winners in Japan have now started from pole position, with Valtteri Bottas, third in 2019, the only exception to this streak. It is as many as in the previous 13 Grands Prix (four from second, one from fourth, one from fifth and one from 17th).

There was also a small slice of history for Norris. He appeared in his 131st Grand Prix, all with McLaren, equalling Mika Hakkinen as the third most-capped driver for the British team.

Top 10

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Lando Norris (McLaren)

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

9. Alex Albon (Williams)

10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers

1. Lando Norris - 62

2. Max Verstappen - 61

3. Oscar Piastri - 49

Constructors

1. McLaren - 111

2. Mercedes - 75

3. Red Bull - 61