Formula 1 in Japan
Verstappen is back: world champion dupies McLaren
Updated on April 6th, 2025 – 10:38 a.m.Reading time: 3 min.
The Dutch confidently wins on the course in Suzuka and sends a sign to the competition. Verstappen has to survive a moment of terror – with his great rival.
Max Verstappen has thrown back against the seemingly overwhelming competition: The four-time and reigning Formula 1 world champion won the Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday and thus celebrated his first victory in the third race of the still young season. On the course in Suzuka, the Dutch won ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri (both McLaren), who had still identified the victories among themselves on the first two race weekends.
Verstappen fended off an attack by the unruly World Cup leader Norris in the pit lane Cool (you can read more about this here). The McLaren driver leads the classification with only one point ahead of Verstappen.
For Verstappen it was already the 64th victory of his career. The 18-year-old newcomer Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) surprised in sixth place. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) finished seventh at the end. Nico Hülkenberg (clean), the only German driver in the field, drove without a chance.
Before the eyes of the Japanese princess Akiko of Mikasa and 105,000 fans on the Suzuka Circuit, Norris remained second and Piatri as third on the four -time world champion, who also knows how to conceal the weaknesses of his stubborn Red Bull this season.
The weather conditions were about this third Grand Prix weekend. A damp race Sunday followed on dry days when sparking had still lit on the side strip. But the weather on the route did not cause problems.
After a third of the race, McLaren tried to finish. On the announcement, Norris supposedly came in at the pit stop, but Red Bull did not fall in. There was finally the right tension in the 22nd round when Verstappen and Norris also stopped changing the tire at the same time.
The red bull star made a slower stop, Norris then almost headed out of the pit lane with him. It got tight at the exit. The Englishman then had to dodge on the lawn to avoid a crash. “He pushed me off,” complained Norris about radio. “He drove to the grass by itself,” said Verstappen unmoved. The rule keepers then did not recognize any violation.
Verstappen came back to fifth, Norris right behind him as the sixth. And who led? Mercedes newcomer Kimi Antonelli! At just 18 years and 224 days. No other driver in this position was the younger in Formula 1 history. On the neck, Antonelli had his Mercedes predecessor Lewis Hamilton, 40 years old, who has started for Ferrari since this season.
When Antonelli headed to the box in the 32nd round, the old order was restored. Verstappen took the lead again in front of Norris and Piatri with a head start around 1.5 seconds. Shortly afterwards, the announcement from the Red Bull Box followed: “Stop really gas from now on!” Antonelli finished sixth in the end.
Verstappen could not be comfortable. But he held his lead over Norris, who had to defend himself more and more violently against Piatri, who in turn finally wanted to be let by his teammate. “I have the speed to grab Max,” the China winner from Australia announced. But there was no go from his box. The McLaren-internal duel could not matter. He raced undeterred to his first win of the season.