Max Verstappen has secured his first victory of the 2025 season at the Japanese Grand Prix, fending off a determined challenge from McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The Dutchman's fourth consecutive win at Suzuka moves him to within just one point of championship leader Norris.
Verstappen converted his pole position into a trip to the top step of the podium with a faultless drive under intense pressure at the legendary circuit.
Verstappen and Norris both enjoyed strong launches at the start, but the Dutchman's grid advantage proved decisive at Turn One.
Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris to win the Japanese Grand Prix
Reuters
From there, the four-time world champion opened up a two-second lead over his championship rival.
McLaren had feared that the Red Bull would be difficult to pass if Verstappen maintained the lead at the start, and so it proved.
The top three ran closely together throughout the first stint, with Verstappen leading the McLaren duo.
McLaren's strategy came into question when they pitted Piastri first, rather than using Norris to attack Verstappen with an earlier stop.
Verstappen and Norris pitted on the same lap, and despite Norris' stop being a second faster, drama unfolded at the pit exit.
The McLaren emerged alongside the Red Bull, but Verstappen held his line, forcing Norris onto the grass.
Norris complained he had been pushed off, whilst Verstappen countered that his rival had driven off by himself as the stewards sided with the world champion.
From then on, Norris and Piastri tracked Verstappen for the final 32 laps, with just over two seconds separating them most of the time.
Norris couldn't get within DRS range of Verstappen, whilst Piastri appeared to have the better pace, sometimes closing to within half a second of his teammate.
Piastri hinted he had the pace to beat Verstappen, but McLaren chose not to interfere in their battle.
The three crossed the line in the same order they had held all race, separated by just 2.2 seconds.
Max Verstappen was in control throughout the race
Reuters
The top three were in a race of their own, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc holding off George Russell for fourth place.
Russell's 18-year-old teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressed with a strong final stint, closing to within two seconds of his more experienced colleague.
Antonelli also made history as the youngest driver to lead a Grand Prix and set the fastest lap.
Lewis Hamilton took seventh from eighth on the grid, whilst Alexander Albon secured ninth for Williams.
Max Verstappen moves just a point behind Lando Norris in the championship table
Reuters
Oliver Bearman rounded out the points in tenth.
Verstappen expressed his delight with the result, saying: "It was tough, just pushing very hard on the last set. The two McLarens were pushing me very hard."
"Not easy to manage the tyres. I'm incredibly happy. It started off quite tough this weekend but we didn't give up."
Norris was gracious in defeat, adding: "The pace was too similar to do anything more. He deserved it."
