British racing star Lando Norris had to settle for second place behind Max Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix today.
The Dutchman secured his fourth consecutive victory at the Suzuka Circuit, marking his first win of the 2025 season.
Despite a strong start from the front row, Norris couldn't gain an advantage over pole-sitter Verstappen at Turn One.
The McLaren driver maintained pressure throughout the race but finished over a second behind his rival.
Lando Norris initially claimed Max Verstappen pushed him off the track but later softened his stance
Reuter
After three races this season, three different drivers have now claimed victories.
The most dramatic moment of the race came during the first round of pit stops on lap 22.
Verstappen's stop was noticeably slower than Norris', resulting in the two drivers exiting the pit lane side-by-side.
The McLaren driver was forced onto the grass as Verstappen held his line, prompting an immediate reaction from the Brit.
"He pushed me off," the 25-year-old exclaimed over the team radio.
Despite Norris' assertions, stewards quickly concluded that no further investigation was necessary.
Norris later softened his stance when speaking to Sky Sports after the race.
"I never expected to come out ahead of him there," he admitted. "He had the right of line, he had the space, he had the position.
"Nothing to complain about, just some nice racing and a bit of action for the team.
"It's racing, I think. He was still ahead, and Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space... in a good way, in a racing way."
Norris explained why overtaking Verstappen proved impossible during the race despite having pace advantage in certain sections.
"I was quicker in sector one, so I could catch, but the Red Bull is a lot quicker than us in slow-speed corners," he revealed.
Lando Norris was forced onto the grass after coming out of his pit stop alongside Max Verstappen
"Even if I got close, staying close in the hairpin and the final chicane would have been impossible."
The McLaren driver acknowledged the circuit layout didn't play to his car's strengths.
"We got away with this low speed in qualifying. But really we lost the race yesterday in qualifying."
Norris made it clear he wasn't surprised by Verstappen's performance despite Red Bull's recent struggles.
Lando Norris had to settle for second at the Japanese Grand Prix
Reuters
"I get a lot of questions asking if am I surprised when Max does a day like yesterday or today. I don't think there is a reason to be," he stated.
The Briton expressed his respect for the four-time world champion's abilities.
"I don't need anyone to tell me what Max is capable of doing," Norris added.
He remains confident about future battles, concluding: "I expect him to be challenging us every weekend."
