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F1 Results Today: Furious Verstappen and Norris battle produces shock Japanese Grand Prix winner

Published

3 weeks ago

April 6, 2025

Amaia Otazu Garde

Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen took a commanding win at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, dominating from pole in a performance at the Suzuka International Circuit which certainly announced a surprising comeback at the track.

The Dutchman had started on pole for the first time in his 2025 campaign after getting off to a disappointing start this season, visibly struggling with the RB21.

McLaren on the other hand were the early favourites for both championships until Sunday, where Verstappen claimed his first victory of the year and fourth consecutive at the track where he has so often declared dominance across his career.

Following his Japanese GP win, Verstappen still sits second in the drivers’ standings behind Norris but there is now just one point between them, not that the British star didn’t give everything to fight for the win in Suzuka, even taking his battle with the Dutchman to the grass at one point.

The championship rivals pitted on lap 23 with the papaya driver gaining an advantage over the Red Bull star after a slow pit stop for Verstappen. After Norris was released however, the No 4 driver tore down the pit lane, pulling up alongside Verstappen, with nowhere to go but the grass before holding back to let Verstappen pull away.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli led the race following the dramatic pit stop, holding off seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari before the duo also pitted, allowing the same top three to resume.

Piastri appeared quicker than his team-mate in the later stages of the race, even taking to team radio to say: “I think I have the pace to get Max,” but McLaren failed to initiate ‘papaya rules’ meaning neither car caught up with Verstappen, who went on to secure what he described as ‘the perfect send off’ to Red Bull’s partnership with Honda at the Japanese motorsport giant’s home race.

F1 Results: Japanese Grand Prix 2025

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – 1:31.548sec
2. Lando Norris [McLaren] – +1.423sec
3. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +2.129sec
4. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +16.097sec
5. George Russell [Mercedes] – +17.362sec
6. Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +18.671sec
7. Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +29.182sec
8. Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +37.134sec
9. Alex Albon [Williams] – +40.367sec
10. Oliver Bearman [Haas] – +54.529sec
11. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +57.333sec
12. Yuki Tsunoda [Red Bull] – +58.401sec
13. Pierre Gasly [Alpine]- +62.122sec
14. Carlos Sainz [Williams]- +74.129sec
15. Jack Doohan [Alpine] – +81.314sec
16. Nico Hulkenberg [Kick Sauber] – +81.957sec
17. Liam Lawson [Racing Bulls] – +82.734sec
18. Esteban Ocon [Haas] – +83.438sec
19. Gabriel Bortoleto [Kick Sauber] – +83.897sec
20. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] + 1 Lap

2025 rule change removes fastest lap point

Fastest lap points have been banished for 2025. Since 2019, drivers have picked up an extra point if they finish in the top 10 and achieve the fastest lap.

However, it did lead to some drivers abandoning their races to pit and fit a set of new tyres at the end in order to claim the fastest lap point, or to stop a rival from getting the extra point.

The most famous example of this in 2024 came during Daniel Ricciardo‘s final F1 race, when the Australian finished last but claimed the fastest lap on the final lap of the Singapore GP, taking the extra point away from Lando Norris and helping Max Verstappen’s title bid.

Who is the current F1 world champion?

Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, won his fourth drivers’ championship last year.

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Verstappen Red Bull future could take big twist as McLaren star left angered – F1 Recap

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2025

Oscar Lopez-FonsecaCamilo S. Baquero EL PAIS

verstappen-red-bull-future-could-take-big-twist-as-mclaren-star-left-angered-–-f1-recap

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has reportedly held sensational talks with a rival F1 driver that will spark rumours over the future of star man Max Verstappen.

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McLaren star casts angry figure after controversial Saudi anthem

McLaren F1 Academy star Ella Lloyd projected an angry figure in Jeddah this weekend despite earning the top spot on the podium after the first race in Saudi Arabia.

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Lewis Hamilton business closes down as ‘dozens lose jobs’

One of Lewis Hamilton’s businesses is set to close its UK-based restaurants, with around 150 jobs reported to be lost by the move.

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Kelly Piquet launches passionate Max Verstappen defence after FIA punishment

Kelly Piquet appears to have hit out at the FIA over their treatment of partner Max Verstappen at last weekend’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

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F1 star gets STUCK in car before unlikely hero comes to rescue

Carlos Sainz had to be helped out of his Williams car by an unlikely hero, after struggling at the end of the 50-lap Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

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FIA release statement after confirming Verstappen Saudi GP penalty

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2025

Ignacio Fariza Reuters

fia-release-statement-after-confirming-verstappen-saudi-gp-penalty

The FIA have released a decision document regarding Max Verstappen‘s penalty at the Saudi Grand Prix this weekend.

The reigning world champion was given a five-second penalty early in Sunday’s race for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, specifically by staying ahead of Oscar Piastri at the first corner.

The pair’s first and only pit stops saw them swap positions as Verstappen served his penalty, eventually fighting back to less than three seconds behind the Australian winner.

The document confirms that Verstappen was punished because Piastri was alongside him and entitled to attempt to pass fairly, with the stewards ruling that the Dutchman ‘gained a lasting advantage that was not given back’.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has spoken out against the decision, with Verstappen himself refusing to be drawn into overt criticism of the penalty, but the decision document revealed that the punishment could have been even more severe.

Why was Verstappen penalised at the Saudi GP?

The FIA revealed that Verstappen could have faced a similar punishment to Racing Bulls star Liam Lawson, who was hit with a 10-second penalty near the end of the race, but mitigating circumstances lowered the punishment.

The official FIA document read: “The stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, telemetry and in-car video evidence and determined that car 81 had its front axle at least alongside the mirror of car 1 prior to and at the apex of corner 1 when trying to overtake car 1 on the inside. In fact, car 81 was alongside car 1 at the apex.

“Based on the driver’s standards guidelines, it was therefore car 81’s corner and he was entitled to be given room. Car 1 then left the track and gained a lasting advantage that was not given back. He stayed in front of car 81 and sought to build on the advantage.

“Ordinarily, the baseline penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage is 10 seconds.

“However, given that this was lap one and turn one incident, we considered that to be a mitigating circumstance and imposed a five-second time penalty instead.”

F1 HEADLINES: FIA make LATE CHANGE to Saudi GP order as special clause revealed

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Horner left stunned after qualifying as F1 star

Published

4 days ago

April 20, 2025

Carlos E Cue Reyes Rincon Xose Hermida

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Max Verstappen‘s pole position for Red Bull left team boss Christian Horner pleasantly stunned ahead of Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

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F1 star’s phone stolen in Saudi Grand Prix mishap

Williams star Alex Albon has taken to social media to reveal evidence of four-time world champion Max Verstappen stealing his phone during media day at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

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Qualifying Results: Verstappen handed shock as huge crash rocks Saudi Grand Prix

Max Verstappen produced a sensational pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after Lando Norris crashed in Q3, as the championship fight takes a shock twist.

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FIA confirm Max Verstappen engine change for Saudi Grand Prix

Formula 1’s governing body have officially confirmed that Max Verstappen’s car has had a number of changes made to it ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend.

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