Max Verstappen is back on top, and he did it the hard way in Japan.
In what turned out to be a strategic chess match and a test of nerves from lights to flag, Red Bull’s reigning world champion held off relentless pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris to claim his fourth straight win at Suzuka. It might be his first victory of the 2025 season, but it was anything but routine.
This one mattered.
There wasn’t much breathing room out front, with the top three—Verstappen, Norris, and Oscar Piastri—running nose-to-tail for large portions of the race. At no point did Verstappen lead by more than a couple of seconds. And yet, he never really looked rattled.
A Pole Lap That Set the Tone
Saturday’s qualifying session had already hinted at what was to come. Verstappen pulled out a monster lap when it counted, grabbing pole with a time that left even the McLaren pit wall shrugging. On a track like Suzuka, where overtaking is never straightforward, that pole was half the battle.
McLaren knew that once Verstappen had clean air, getting past would require more than just raw pace. It would need strategy, flawless execution, and maybe a bit of luck.
McLaren’s Strategic Gamble
From the start, Verstappen kept both McLarens behind, managing the race without wasting his tyres or showing any signs of urgency. Norris stayed close, always within striking distance but never quite close enough to lunge.
The first big decision came when McLaren chose to pit Piastri first, reacting to a stop from George Russell, who was threatening from behind on the hard tyre. But the timing of that call raised eyebrows. Norris was arguably in a better position to attempt the undercut on Verstappen, yet McLaren prioritized track position for both cars rather than going all-in with Norris.
To add to the intrigue, Norris had already been called in for a dummy stop two laps earlier—perhaps a feint to put Red Bull off balance. Whether it worked or not is up for debate, but the fact remains: Norris was within 1.5 seconds of Verstappen when Piastri came in, and that’s just about the window needed to attempt an undercut.
In hindsight, some will question whether McLaren were too conservative.
Pit Lane Drama
The moment of the race came as Verstappen and Norris pitted on the same lap, just after Piastri. Red Bull’s stop was solid, but McLaren’s was quicker—by a full second. As both drivers exited the pits, Norris found himself halfway alongside Verstappen heading into the narrow blend line.
But Verstappen didn’t flinch.
He held the racing line, and Norris ran out of room, putting two wheels on the grass before backing out. It was a flashpoint, a moment that could have easily ended in disaster for both, but also a perfect example of how fine the margins are at the front.
There were no complaints from either team. Just a hard, uncompromising fight.
Pressure Without Mistakes
From there, Norris never let Verstappen go. The gap hovered between one and two seconds, never stretching far enough to give Red Bull any real comfort. But Verstappen didn’t crack.
Lap after lap, he hit his marks, managed his tyres, and responded every time Norris looked like mounting a charge. It was a drive built on confidence, experience, and maybe a touch of frustration from how the opening rounds of the season had gone.
It wasn’t a crushing victory. It didn’t come with a 20-second lead or a dominant display of pace. But it was arguably more impressive because of that.
McLaren’s Rise Continues
Despite missing out on the top step, McLaren will walk away from Japan with plenty to feel good about. The car is clearly quick. Norris looks more confident than ever. And Piastri is proving to be a genuine contender in his own right.
They’re pushing Red Bull harder than anyone expected this early in the season. And that, more than anything, is what the sport needs.
In the press pen afterward, Norris was upbeat. “We gave it everything,” he said. “The team was great, and the pace was there. We just didn’t quite have enough to get Max today. But we’re close.”
He’s right. They are.
Championship Picture Tightens
With this win, Verstappen now sits just one point behind Norris in the drivers’ standings. It’s shaping up to be a proper fight—not just between two drivers, but two teams with very different vibes.
Red Bull are the reigning champions, slick and ruthless. McLaren, on the other hand, feel like the young challengers, bold and hungry. That dynamic is bringing fresh energy to every race weekend.
If the rest of the season looks anything like Japan, we’re in for a classic.
Final Thoughts
There will be questions about McLaren’s strategy, and what might have been if they had flipped the order of their stops. But credit where it’s due: Verstappen was faultless under pressure, and that made the difference.
In a sport where the margins are razor thin and one wrong call can change everything, this race reminded us why Verstappen is still the man to beat. But make no mistake—Norris is coming.
And so is this championship battle.
