Verstappen fends off McLaren duo to claim victory, while 18-year-old Antonelli sets records with fastest lap.

Max Verstappen produced a flawless drive to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, holding off McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a tense battle for the top spot. The Dutchman’s precision and calm under pressure earned him yet another victory, keeping his strong momentum in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, couldn’t hide his admiration for Verstappen’s performance, calling it “one of the best weekends he’s had in Formula One.” Horner told Sky Sports: “The hard work was really done yesterday, but today in the race, he was inch-perfect. McLaren were fast, but we were just that bit quicker to hold them off.”

Verstappen’s win came after a stellar Saturday performance, where he grabbed pole position by just 0.012 seconds in a dramatic qualifying session. The final laps were interrupted by a six-minute delay caused by a grass fire, but Verstappen’s incredible pace saw him edge out Norris in the dying moments, much to the surprise of the paddock.

In the race, Verstappen quickly built a two-second gap over Norris and maintained his lead throughout, despite McLaren’s best efforts to close the distance. A critical moment came when both Verstappen and Norris pitted simultaneously. The two came out of the pit lane nearly side by side, but Verstappen wasn’t giving an inch. Norris briefly found himself driving across the grass, but later explained it was simply “racing,” adding, “Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space, in a good way.”

While Verstappen secured victory, the race also saw a historic achievement by Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli. At just 18 years and 224 days old, Antonelli became the youngest driver in F1 history to set the fastest lap during a race. He also briefly led the race, becoming the youngest driver to do so as well. His performance was a standout moment in what was an eventful race for the teenage sensation.

With his win in Japan, Verstappen closed the gap to just one point behind Norris in the Drivers’ Championship standings. “I’m incredibly happy,” Verstappen said after the race. “It started off quite tough this weekend, but we didn’t give up. We kept improving the car, and today it was in its best form. Of course, starting on pole really made it possible to win this race.”

On a more controversial note, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz had a rough weekend, finishing 14th after suffering a “stomach issue” ahead of the race. Sainz arrived late for the pre-race national anthem and was subsequently fined €20,000 ($22,000) by the FIA. Half of the fine was suspended for a year, and the FIA confirmed that Sainz’s condition had been verified by a doctor, which led to the reduced fine.

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

Verstappen’s victory further solidifies his dominance in the sport, but the rising talent of Antonelli and the fierce competition from McLaren make the 2025 season even more thrilling as the championship race continues.

Source: CNN – Max Verstappen wins tense Japanese Grand Prix as teenage sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes F1 history

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Top 3 Qualifiers:

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

Q: Lando, incredible job! How satisfying was that final lap in Q3?

LN: It was a good lap, but honestly, qualifying wasn’t as easy as expected. We thought we’d be a bit quicker, but the competition really picked up. The session wasn’t flawless; I had a big moment at Turn 9, which cost me a little, but overall, it felt like a strong lap. The track conditions were tricky, and I knew I had to push harder to catch up to Max, who seemed faster. It wasn’t perfect, but I’m happy with the result.

Q: How did the conditions affect your performance, especially the wind and track temperature?

LN: The track has been fast all weekend, and we’re definitely quicker compared to last year. The wind has been relatively consistent, though it shifts as the day progresses. Once you figure out how the wind behaves, you can push when needed and play it safe when required.

Q: You’ve opted for more downforce than some of your rivals. Do you think that might hurt you on the straights?

LN: Maybe a little, but with DRS and the race setup, it shouldn’t be a huge issue. Straight-line speed isn’t our biggest strength today, but come race time, things should even out. We knew we’d sacrifice some speed on the straights for better stability in corners, and that’s the trade-off. Our car is solid, and we’re optimistic for tomorrow.

Q: McLaren front row lockout – how does this help in the Constructors’ Championship fight?

LN: Having both cars on the front row is a great confidence boost for the team. We’ve been performing well all weekend, but tomorrow’s race is long, and anything can happen. Ferrari will fight hard, especially since it’s Carlos’ last race with them. We’re in a great position, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves.

Q: Oscar, congratulations! Your sixth career front-row start. How do you feel about your final lap in Q3?

OP: I’m pleased with the result, but I know there were a few areas I could have improved. The lap wasn’t perfect, and I definitely left some time on the table, especially in a few corners. Still, considering the challenges we’ve had recently, I’ll take P2.

Q: How did track limits on your first run in Q3 affect your second attempt?

OP: It wasn’t ideal, but I knew I had to push more on the second run. I didn’t dwell too much on the track limits issue, but it added a bit of pressure. In the end, I found a bit more pace but just missed out on pole.

Q: Were you surprised by the pace of your car this weekend, especially the front-row lockout?

OP: It’s been close all weekend, but I didn’t expect a front-row lockout. The grid is really tight, and we’ve had some surprises, like Haas showing strong pace. Our practice sessions felt good, but we knew qualifying would be tricky. It’s been a great result, but it wasn’t something I anticipated going into the weekend.

Q: Carlos, great performance today. How did you feel about your lap?

CS: I was really happy with my Q1 and Q2 laps, which gave me hope for a strong result. But once Lando and Oscar started putting their laps together in Q3, I knew it would be tough to beat them. My lap was solid, though, and I’m happy with P3. We were a few tenths off, but we’ll focus on the race pace tomorrow.

Q: Were you surprised by McLaren’s pace this weekend?

CS: It’s been clear that McLaren is strong here, especially in the corners where they have an advantage. The layout of the track suits their car, particularly in Turn 1 and Turn 9, where we’re losing time. Still, we’re only two-tenths off, and we’ll fight hard tomorrow to match their pace.

Q: How does Charles’ grid penalty affect Ferrari’s chances in the Constructors’ fight?

CS: The penalty was a big blow, but it was always going to be tough to challenge McLaren this weekend. We knew the challenge would be immense, and now it’s even harder. That said, anything can happen in the race, and we’ll fight for every point. Charles will be pushing hard from the back, and we’ll do everything we can to make up ground.

Questions from the Floor:

Q: Oscar, did the track limits on your first run in Q3 impact your final lap?

OP: I didn’t intentionally leave more margin at Turn 1, but I did end up losing some time there. It was a bit frustrating, especially after the first run was canceled. I tried to be aggressive, but in the end, I just wasn’t able to do enough to challenge for pole.

Q: Carlos, how are you feeling about your last race with Ferrari?

CS: It’s hard to say how it will feel until tomorrow. I’ve been so focused on executing a perfect weekend that I haven’t had time to get emotional yet. Of course, I’ll feel sentimental, but for now, my focus is on helping the team and aiming for a strong result in my final race with Ferrari.

Q: To both McLaren drivers, do you dare to dream about a title?

OP: Absolutely! It would be special for me to be part of McLaren’s next chapter and to help bring the team back to the top. We’ve come a long way in my two seasons here, and it would mean a lot to contribute to McLaren’s success.

LN: For me, it’s a little different because I’ve been with McLaren longer. It’s been a rollercoaster ride with a lot of highs and lows, but now we’ve reached a place where we can challenge the top teams. It’s a huge achievement for the team, and I’m proud to be a part of it. To think about winning the title this year, instead of next, is incredible. The work we’ve done to get here has been so rewarding.

Q: How important is the Constructors’ Championship to you as drivers?

OP: It’s huge. People often don’t realize just how much effort goes into building a competitive car, and the Constructors’ Championship represents the work of everyone behind the scenes. It’s not just about the drivers; it’s about the whole team’s effort. For McLaren, this would be a monumental achievement after 25 years.

CS: I completely agree. The Constructors’ Championship shows how every individual in the team plays a crucial role in the success of the car. The effort of the engineers and everyone in the factory is what gets us to the front. It’s a team achievement, and that’s what makes it so special.

Q: Carlos, would you sign up for P3 again tomorrow?

CS: No, I wouldn’t. I know we’re capable of more, and I’ll fight for that tomorrow. We need to win to have a shot at the Constructors’, and we’ll do everything we can to make that happen. Tomorrow is a new day, and I’ll give it my all.

Source

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