The third round of the 2025 Formula 1 season welcomed teams and fans to the iconic Suzuka Circuit in Japan on 4-6 April.
Renowned for its challenging nature and passionate fans, Suzuka once again delivered an exciting race weekend. Stay strapped in and let’s go through the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
The session began with free practice sessions on 4 April. McLaren showed strong form, with Lando Norris leading the first session and Oscar Piastri in the second. The sessions were not drama-free; Jack Doohan’s crash and ensuing grass fires saw multiple red flags fly, halting proceedings.
It was found that the rookie driver had not closed his drag reduction system sending him into the wall at over 300 Km/h. It had been found that the rookie had been able to perform the corner with the DRS open in the simulator and a series of unfortunate events made the perfect storm. Jack Doohan was found to have no injuries and had a great race finishing in 15th but did suffer when getting out of the car due to the bruising.
Qualifying on 5 April saw Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claim pole position with a lap of 1:26.983. Second and third places were claimed by Norris and Piastri of McLaren, respectively, setting up the race nicely for the early race on Sunday.
On race day, Verstappen converted his pole position into a dominating win, his fourth consecutive at Suzuka being the first driver ever to do that at this track. The McLaurin drivers retained their qualifying positions, Norris second and Piastri third, to underline the team’s resurgence.
One of the highlight performances was that of Mercedes’ rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. At age 18, Antonelli became the youngest driver to ever lead a Formula 1 race and record the fastest lap in history with a 1:30.965 on lap 50.
The result at Suzuka had dramatic implications on the Drivers’ Championship standings:
Lando Norris (McLaren) – 62 points
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – 61 points
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 49 points
George Russell (Mercedes) – 45 points
In February 2024, Formula 1 announced a five-year extension with the Japanese Grand Prix, locking in Suzuka’s spot on the calendar until at least 2029. The decision reflects the circuit’s well-respected status among drivers and fans alike.
Not only did the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix deliver thrilling on-track action, but it also reaffirmed Suzuka’s position as a key fighting ground of the Formula 1 world. As the season unfolds, teams and drivers will undoubtedly carry forward the momentum and lessons of this memorable weekend.
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Featured Image Credit: F1