F1: Verstappen Claims Victory at Japanese Grand Prix, Norris and Piastri Follow
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Synopsis
Max Verstappen celebrated his first win of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Japanese Grand Prix, successfully defending against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. This win places him just one point behind Norris in the championship standings, while Piastri finishes third on his birthday.
Key Takeaways
- Max Verstappen secures first win of 2025.
- Norris and Piastri finish second and third.
- Verstappen is now one point behind Norris in standings.
- Piastri celebrates his 24th birthday with a podium finish.
- Important farewell race for Honda in Japan.
Suzuka, April 6 (NationPress) Max Verstappen achieved his inaugural triumph of the 2025 season with a brilliant performance, securing P1 at the Japanese Grand Prix. The reigning World Champion successfully fended off the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, marking his fourth straight victory at the Suzuka Circuit.
In the championship standings, Verstappen's win positions him just one point shy of Norris at the top, while Piastri ascends to third, surpassing Russell.
"It was challenging, as I had to push hard. The two McLarens were challenging me relentlessly, making it an exciting race. I am absolutely thrilled. The weekend started off tough, but we persevered, refined the car, and with a pole position, we managed to secure the win.
"Maximizing performance is crucial, and we executed that excellently this weekend. Suzuka holds a special significance for me. I knew I needed to maintain my lead in our final farewell to Honda in Japan. What a fantastic send-off!" Verstappen stated, as reported by F1.
Norris secured second place but faced a late threat from his teammate. As Piastri's challenge dwindled in the final laps, the finishing positions remained unchanged, with Piastri celebrating his 24th birthday with a third-place finish.
"I suppose I faltered yesterday. Max had a stellar race today, making no errors. It was a full-throttle race from the beginning to the end, so it was tough, but we couldn't catch Max.
"The pit lane incident was part of racing. Max is the last person I expect to give me space, in a positive racing manner. They deserved the win this weekend. Their pace has been impressive, and as a team, we need to step up our game after this weekend," Norris commented.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, ahead of the Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, the latter impressively leading during the pit stop phase after a long initial stint.
Lewis Hamilton contributed to Ferrari's points in seventh, while rookie Isack Hadjar earned his first points of the season with a strong performance for Racing Bulls, finishing eighth. Alex Albon followed in ninth for Williams, with Haas driver Ollie Bearman rounding out the points in tenth.
