In the fourth race of 2025 (including sprints) and a fourth different winner, Red Bull's Max Verstappen led home McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Whilst certainly not a candidate for race of the year, the driver's championship is closer than ever heading into Bahrain next weekend.
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix was a bit of a snoozefest for viewers, as the top six finished exactly where they started, but the drivers were flat out at all times on the new track surface at Suzuka. Mercedes driver, George Russell, had this to say about the tyre degradation.
Max Verstappen celebrates his 64th Grand Prix victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images
Japan is somewhat of a happy hunting ground for Verstappen, he is unbeaten at this circuit and event since 2019, two years before his first championship! With Japan being such a positive place for Red Bull's number one, McLaren had the work to do and neither Lando Norris
Max Verstappen leads Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the final lap of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images
Despite the poor showing for the viewers and fans, the battle started to build up in the final 10 laps as Piastri closed in on his papaya teammate, Norris. Although the late burst of pace woke the sleepy Europeans up a little bit, it was ultimately not enough, with Verstappen crossing the line ahead of Norris to claim his 64th Grand Prix victory of his career.
Credit: Formula One
Verstappen and Norris' altercation at the pitlane exit. Image: Formula One
Make sure to get your predictions in for the fourth race of the year in Bahrain next weekend in the forum post. You still have plenty of time to put yourself in the running for a year's worth of OverTake.gg Premium website membership!
The Driver of the Day award has always been a bit of a gimmick, but as a feature on the live broadcast, and with both commentators mocking the winner in this case, something needs to change in order to give the feature any credibility.
Yuki Tsunoda voted Driver of the Day. Image: Formula One
An alternative method of running the Driver of the Day poll could feature up to five drivers who had a great race or made significant strategic wins or overtakes. This method could be seen as controversial, especially if they miss a driver out after a great showing, but in the current form, the award is meaningless and has no backbone.
What did you think about the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix? Let us know in the comments down below!
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix was a bit of a snoozefest for viewers, as the top six finished exactly where they started, but the drivers were flat out at all times on the new track surface at Suzuka. Mercedes driver, George Russell, had this to say about the tyre degradation.
Max Verstappen celebrates his 64th Grand Prix victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images
Max Verstappen conquers confident McLaren
After a blistering lap record in Saturday's qualifying session, the flying Dutchman Max Verstappen saw out a lights-to-flag victory at Suzuka, our fourth different winner in four races in 2025!Japan is somewhat of a happy hunting ground for Verstappen, he is unbeaten at this circuit and event since 2019, two years before his first championship! With Japan being such a positive place for Red Bull's number one, McLaren had the work to do and neither Lando Norris
Max Verstappen leads Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the final lap of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images
Despite the poor showing for the viewers and fans, the battle started to build up in the final 10 laps as Piastri closed in on his papaya teammate, Norris. Although the late burst of pace woke the sleepy Europeans up a little bit, it was ultimately not enough, with Verstappen crossing the line ahead of Norris to claim his 64th Grand Prix victory of his career.
| Finishing Position | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 53 | 1:22:06.983 | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 53 | +1.423s | 18 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 53 | +2.129s | 15 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 53 | +16.097s | 12 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 53 | +17.362s | 10 |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 53 | +18.671s | 8 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 53 | +29.182s | 6 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 53 | +37.134s | 4 |
| 9 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 53 | +40.367s | 2 |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 53 | +54.529s | 1 |
| 11 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 53 | +57.333s | 0 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 53 | +58.401s | 0 |
| 13 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 53 | +62.122s | 0 |
| 14 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 53 | +74.129s | 0 |
| 15 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 53 | +81.314s | 0 |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 53 | +81.957s | 0 |
| 17 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 53 | +82.734s | 0 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 53 | +83.438s | 0 |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 53 | +83.897s | 0 |
| 20 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 52 | +1 lap | 0 |
Verstappen and Norris' altercation at the pitlane exit. Image: Formula One
Podium Prediction game
The Japanese Grand Prix was the third round of our podium prediction game for 2025! -Make sure to get your predictions in for the fourth race of the year in Bahrain next weekend in the forum post. You still have plenty of time to put yourself in the running for a year's worth of OverTake.gg Premium website membership!
Is the Driver of the Day award irrelevant?
After overcoming the faster McLarens, Max Verstappen looked set to become driver of the day, but the popularity contest in a country that is firmly behind their solo representative, Yuki Tsunoda, showed exactly why the award could be seen to be rather irrelevant.The Driver of the Day award has always been a bit of a gimmick, but as a feature on the live broadcast, and with both commentators mocking the winner in this case, something needs to change in order to give the feature any credibility.
Yuki Tsunoda voted Driver of the Day. Image: Formula One
An alternative method of running the Driver of the Day poll could feature up to five drivers who had a great race or made significant strategic wins or overtakes. This method could be seen as controversial, especially if they miss a driver out after a great showing, but in the current form, the award is meaningless and has no backbone.
What did you think about the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix? Let us know in the comments down below!
