Verstappen Claims First 2025 Victory with Fourth Straight Japanese GP Win in Honda’s Red Bull Farewell

Max Verstappen reignited his championship campaign with a masterclass at Suzuka, securing his first win of the 2025 Formula 1 season and a historic fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix victory. The Red Bull driver fended off relentless pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a nail-biting finish, crossing the line just 1.4 seconds ahead of Norris to claim his 64th career win.

Strategic Brilliance and Pit-Lane Drama Starting from pole position, Verstappen built an early two-second lead over Norris, leveraging Red Bull’s optimized setup on the high-speed circuit. The race’s pivotal moment came during the pit stops on Lap 20, when a slow 3.1-second stop for Verstappen allowed Norris to emerge nearly side-by-side exiting the pit lane. With neither driver yielding, Norris was forced onto the grass, sparking heated radio exchanges. Stewards deemed the incident a racing incident, leaving Verstappen to defend his lead.

McLaren’s Late Charge Falls Short Piastri, running third, turned up the heat in the final laps, closing within DRS range of Norris. The intra-team battle forced Norris to push harder, trimming Verstappen’s lead to under two seconds. But the Dutchman’s tire management and precision under braking proved insurmountable. “It was tough, especially on the last set of tires,” Verstappen admitted post-race. “Starting on pole made the difference, and we maximized every detail”.

Honda’s Swan Song The race marked Red Bull’s final Japanese GP with Honda power before the manufacturer shifts to Aston Martin in 2026. Red Bull, which clinched four drivers’ titles with Honda since 2019, will partner with Ford on a new powertrains project next year. Team principal Christian Horner hailed the win as “truly inspirational,” adding, “This partnership has been legendary, but we’re ready for the next chapter”.

Championship Implications Norris, who won the season opener in Melbourne, retains a slender one-point lead in the standings. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) finished fourth, while Mercedes’ George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli took fifth and sixth, respectively.

Post-Race Reactions “Max didn’t put a foot wrong,” Norris conceded. “We threw everything at him, but it wasn’t enough.” Piastri, who pressured his teammate late, remarked, “We’re closer than ever—today just confirmed how tight this fight will be”.

White-Livery Tribute Red Bull ran a special white-and-red livery to honor Honda’s legacy, drawing applause from the 115,000-strong crowd. Verstappen’s victory—the first driver to win four straight Suzuka races—cemented his status as a modern-day Suzuka specialist.

Looking Ahead With the championship battle now a three-way tussle between Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri, F1 heads to Shanghai with Red Bull’s momentum restored. As Horner put it: “This is the resilience we’re built on”.