The current world champion held Lando Norris and Oscar Piasstri of McLaren to claim his 64th victory in the Grand Prix of his career.
The four -time world champion Max Verstappen demanded a victory in the pole to the formation of Red Bull to win the Japanese Grand Prix, his first victory of the 2025 season, with the Norris de McLaren Lando ending second.
The Dutch pilot crossed the finish line of almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris, who held his teammate from McLaren, Oscar Piasstri of Australia, thirdly, on Sunday.
The victory on a wet but dry track in Suzuka was Verstappen’s fourth consecutive victory in Japan and closed the gap in Norris at the top of the pilot championship to one point.
Verstappen said: “It was difficult. The McLarens were pressing me very strong.
“It was very fun but not easy to push the tires. I am incredibly happy.
“Starting in Pole made it possible to win.”
Charles Leclerc de Ferrari finished fourth ahead of the Mercedes couple of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Lewis Hamilton de Ferrari was seventh, with Isack Hadjar de Red Bull after Alex Albon by Williams and Oliver Bearman de Haas.
Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first race for Red Bull since he replaced Liam Lawson, after having started from 14 on the network in his Grand Prix of origin. Lawson was 17 for RB.
Boxes stop
Verstappen and Norris were involved in a point of inflammation in the middle of the race, since the two friends left a boxes.
Norris retired next to Verstappen, but the Dutchman refused to move, and Norris was forced to the grass before returning to the track.
Norris said: “He forced me to leave,” but Verstappen told his team that he was not to blame.
“It led to the grass,” Verstappen said.
The butlers reviewed the incident and decided not to investigate anymore.
Verstappen has fought to control with Red Bull this season, ending second in Australia and fourth in China.
But he achieved a return for the ages in the qualification in Suzuka, taking Norris to claim his first pole of the season in a registration time of the track.
Verstappen escaped cleanly from Norris and Piasstri in the first turn, with few changes in the network.
The Dutchman quickly established control by establishing the fastest lap, and his advantage grew on the first part of the race.
The rookie Antonelli of eighteen briefly took the lead while Verstappen and Norris were in the wells to become the leader of the youngest race in Formula one.
Verstappen soon claimed the advantage, and his team gave him the green light to push until the end of the race.
The two McLarens stayed in their tail, with Piastri telling their team: “I have the rhythm of getting Max.” But Verstappen could not be caught.
The conditions in Suzuka had been dry all week, with a series of small fires on the path of detention practice several times, but early rain on Sunday eliminated any possibility of repeating in the race.
Lando Norris remains at the top of the classification of F1 2025 drivers with 62 points, with Verstappen in 61 and Piastri third in 49 points.
