Japanese GP: Max Verstappen beats McLarens for fourth-straight win - ESPN

Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season after soaking up race-long pressure from McLarens two drivers to win the Japanese Grand Prix.

The result was at odds with the form of the opening two races, in which McLaren had the strongest car, and was teed up by Verstappen's remarkable pole position qualifying lap on Saturday, which saw him beat Lando Norris to the fastest time by 0.012 seconds.

Verstappen's victory ahead of Norris means he is now just one point off the McLaren driver in the drivers' standings after three races and 12 ahead of Oscar Piastri, who finished third in the sister McLaren.

«We never give up, we keep pushing together,» Verstappen said over team radio after he crossed the line. «Unbelievable! What a great weekend for us.»

The victory also marked Red Bull's last race with Honda power in Japan, which was marked by the team with a one-off white livery.

Verstappen maintained the lead of the 53-lap race at the start and built a gap of between 1.5 and 2.5 seconds in the opening stint.

«It was tough, we were pushing very hard and it was a lot of fun out there,» Verstappen said afterwards. «I am incredibly happy. The car was in its best form today and starting on pole really made it possible.

»It means a lot to me, it is a great story to win here for Honda in Japan."

On Lap 18, McLaren radioed Norris to «pit to overtake» but cancelled the call as he came towards the end of the lap as he would have likely filtered into traffic on his return to the circuit.

Two laps later, Piastri pitted from third place, leading Verstappen and Norris to follow suit on the following lap to avoid being undercut by the Australian on fresher tyres.

The decision to opt for an identical strategy to