Japanese Grand Prix 2025 Results: Max Verstappen posts maiden win ahead of Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri

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Max Verstappen finally opened his 2025 account with a clinical drive to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, edging out McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a tense battle at Suzuka. The reigning World Champion delivered under pressure, marking his first win of the season and fourth in a row at the historic Japanese circuit.

Below are the full race results from the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix:

Japanese Grand Prix Results 2025

From pole position, Verstappen got off the line cleanly, with Norris and Piastri maintaining their starting spots just behind. The Dutchman quickly settled into rhythm, stretching a slender but crucial lead over the McLaren duo. The early laps passed without drama at the front, but the first round of pit stops added a layer of controversy.

Verstappen and Norris pitted on the same lap, and a slightly slow stop from Red Bull opened a brief window of opportunity for Norris. As they rejoined side-by-side, Verstappen squeezed the McLaren man toward the grass at the pit exit.

Norris voiced his frustration over team radio, claiming he was forced off. Verstappen, meanwhile, defended his move. The stewards opted not to investigate, allowing the Red Bull to maintain position and focus on rebuilding the gap.

In the second half of the race, Piastri applied pressure on Norris, briefly threatening a McLaren switch. But with ten laps to go, Norris surged forward, narrowing Verstappen's lead and holding off his team mate to cement second place. Piastri, celebrating his 24th birthday, took a solid third - rounding off a strong weekend for McLaren.

Behind the leading trio, Charles Leclerc brought Ferrari home in fourth, while George Russell once again led the charge for Mercedes in fifth. The spotlight, however, was on rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 18-year-old impressed with a daring long stint that saw him lead the race temporarily before finishing sixth, just behind his more experienced teammate.

Lewis Hamilton, now in red, picked up more points with a seventh-place finish, ahead of Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who impressed with his first top-10 result in F1. Williams' Alex Albon finished ninth, while Ollie Bearman snatched the final point for Haas.

Local favorite Yuki Tsunoda, making his Red Bull debut, finished a frustrating 12th but was voted Driver of the Day by the fans. He was sandwiched between Fernando Alonso, who finally saw the chequered flag this season, and Pierre Gasly's Alpine.

Further down the order, Sainz struggled to make headway for Williams after a grid penalty, finishing 14th. The Alpines of Jack Doohan and Gasly lacked pace, while Sauber's Hulkenberg and Bortoleto continued to toil at the back. Liam Lawson returned to Racing Bulls with a quiet run to 17th, and Esteban Ocon managed 18th. Lance Stroll's Aston Martin brought up the rear.

The victory now puts Verstappen within one point of championship leader Norris. With momentum now on Red Bull's side, the title race may just be heating up as F1 heads to China.