Verstappen claims first 2025 win at Suzuka amid McLaren debate

Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Dutchman's flawless drive from pole position resulted in his fourth consecutive win at Suzuka, setting a new record that surpasses Michael Schumacher's previous achievement.

Perfect Start

Verstappen laid the groundwork for victory with an impeccable getaway from the grid.

He quickly built a cushion of more than two seconds over Lando Norris in the opening laps, safely clearing the DRS threat from the McLaren driver.

This early advantage proved crucial as Verstappen maintained control at the front.

The Red Bull driver capitalized on his impressive qualifying performance to deliver a controlled drive at the front of the field.

Despite constant pressure from the McLaren duo, Verstappen remained composed and did not give his rivals any opportunity to make a successful pass.

The race's pivotal moment came during the pit stop sequence when McLaren attempted to force Red Bull's hand by bringing in Oscar Piastri on lap 20.

Verstappen immediately responded and Norris followed him into the pit lane.

McLaren's pit crew executed a faster stop, putting Norris alongside Verstappen at the pit exit.

However, Norris couldn't find space to challenge and briefly ran across the grass.

His subsequent radio complaints yielded no response from race control, leaving the running order unchanged.

McLaren's strategy dilemma

As the race entered its final stages, a fascinating team dynamic developed at McLaren.

Piastri, showing superior pace, closed to within a second of teammate Norris, prompting speculation of a position swap to give the Australian a chance to challenge Verstappen.

Over the final 30 laps, Norris was unable to get within DRS range of Verstappen and could only match the Red Bull driver's pace.

This created a quandary for McLaren, as Piastri sat comfortably within a second of Norris and appeared to have better pace.

Despite this advantage, McLaren chose not to swap their drivers' positions.

This decision left Verstappen unchallenged at the front, with the McLaren pair completing the podium behind the four-time world champion.

Ferrari and Mercedes

Charles Leclerc drove a solid race to finish fourth for Ferrari, maintaining his starting position despite pressure from the Mercedes pair.

George Russell claimed fifth place, getting within 1.2 seconds of Leclerc by the checkered flag but unable to mount a serious challenge for the position.

Rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressed with sixth place in only his third Grand Prix, finishing just 1.3 seconds behind his more experienced teammate.

The young Italian's measured drive on a long medium tire stint showcased his rapidly developing talents.

Lewis Hamilton, now in Ferrari colors, employed a contra-strategy starting on hard tires to finish seventh, while Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar scored his first career points with eighth place.

Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman rounded out the points positions.

Red Bull

Red Bull's return to winning form comes as a relief after a challenging start to the season. Verstappen's victory narrows the championship gap to just one point behind Norris.

However, Sergio Perez's absence from the top positions raises questions about the team's overall performance.

McLaren

McLaren continues to demonstrate impressive consistency with both cars on the podium.

Their pace remained competitive throughout, but their decision not to swap drivers might spark debate about missed opportunities.

Nevertheless, they maintain their lead in both championships.

Ferrari

Ferrari seems to have fallen slightly behind the top two teams.

Leclerc's fourth place was the maximum possible, while Hamilton's seventh indicates the Italian team still has work to do to close the performance gap.

Mercedes

Mercedes showed promising signs with Russell and Antonelli securing fifth and sixth.

The rookie's performance was particularly noteworthy, suggesting the team's driver development program continues to deliver results.