Japanese GP Highlights, Formula 1: Max Verstappen Wins 1st Race Of Season, Makes It 4 In A Row In Japan

Japanese Grand Prix Highlights: Max Verstappen reigned supreme at Suzuka on Sunday, becoming the first Formula 1 driver to win four back-to-back Japanese Grand Prixs.

Japanese Grand Prix F1 Highlights: Max Verstappen wins at Suzuka.© AFP

Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights: Max Verstappen reigned supreme at Suzuka on Sunday, becoming the first Formula 1 driver to win four back-to-back Japanese Grand Prixs. Verstappen finished ahead of the Mclaren duo, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, to win his first race of the season. Norris, the current championship leader, finished 2nd ahead of his teammate Piastri, 3rd. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli became the youngest race leader ever in F1 history after Verstappen pitted after Lap 22. Antonelli led the race for 10 laps before pitting himself, after which, Verstappen retook the lead of the race. Antonelli finished sixth, behind his Mercedes teammate George Russell.

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April06202512:07 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Thanks for tuning in!
Thanks for joining us for the coverage of the Japanese GP 2025 from Suzuka. Until next time!
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April06202511:58 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Max wins the Japanese GP!
Max becomes the first driver to win four races on the trot at Suzuka. That incredible pole position yesterday has set up his tilt of victory, leaving the McLarens behind.

MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS IN JAPAN!!

The Red Bull driver secures victory after a measured drive under pressure #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/jJHRub1jJo
- Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
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April06202511:48 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Going down to the wire!
Just six laps left. Verstappen seems to heading to a 4th straight win at Suzuka. However, Norris is breathing down his neck, hoping to snatch the lead in the dying embers of the race.
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April06202511:43 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Sainz on the charge!
Sainz was trailing Hulkenbergs by more than 5s, but he has managed to cut that gap to 0.3s, having switched to softs. The Spaniard is pushing, even though he might not get into the points
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April06202511:41 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Piastri is flying!
Verstappen has had no troubles so far. He continues to lead the McLarens, with Norris and Piastri likely to fight it out for the 2nd spot. However, Lando says he has the pace to get to Max.
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April06202511:37 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: The Red Bull curse?
Yuki is struggling. He is down at 12th and not gaining much on Fernando Alonso at 11th. His former teammate, Hadjar, is in the top 8, eyeing points.
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April06202511:29 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Verstappen back in the lead at Suzuka!
Max is back in the lead as Kimi pits after a brave drive at the top. He comes out ahead of Hamilton, who is currently 8th.
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April06202511:27 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Sainz lets Albon pass him!
Williams swap Sainz with Albon, who has been faster than his teammate in almost every session so far. Just over 20 laps left in the 53-lap race.
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April06202511:24 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Hamilton goes into the pits!
Hamilton locks up in front of Verstappen and pits. The seven-time world champion bins off his hard tyres and swaps to the mediums. Comes out ahead of Isack Hadjar at 7th.
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April06202511:18 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Kimi scripts!
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the youngest driver in F1 history to lead a race. The teenager was 1.6s ahead of Hamilton - now that gap is up to 4.5s. Amazing tyre management from Mercedes no. 2
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April06202511:17 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Sainz's struggles!
Sainz is struggling with his breaks. He went off the track once again down at the chicane. Concerns for Williams.
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April06202511:15 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Albon vents out frustration!
Albon is absolutely furious. He is unhappy for his slow pit. The former Red Bull driver is now stuck in the midfield traffic at 13 behind Ocon and Bortoleto.
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April06202511:12 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Kimi leads at Suzuka!
Antonelli is now the leader of the race as Verstappen, Norris and Leclerc all pit on the same lap. Verstappen is fifth ahead of Norris and Piastri as the undercut did not work for McLaren. Norris had gone off the grass while trying to overtake Max.
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April06202511:08 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Sainz survives penalty!
Piastri pits for McLaren! He comes out ahead of Fernando Alonso on 10th. George Russell also pitted but he is down at 13th now. Meanwhile, Sainz was under investigation for leaving the track and gaining unfair advantage after the lock up. However, the stewards have decided not to penalise him
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April06202511:04 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: McLaren's dummy!
Some tactical banter between Red Bull and Mclaren. Verstappen goes past the pit lane entry, only for Norris to do the same. However, it was a dummy from McLaren to force an early pit from their rivals.
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April06202511:02 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Sainz survives a lock up!
Massive moment there for Sainz as the replays show a small lock-up for the ex-Ferrari driver, which sends him over the chicane.
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April06202510:59 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Tsunoda gaining on Gasly!
Tsunoda is constantly pushing the pressure on Alpine's Gasly. Meanwhile, the other Alpine, Jack Doohan, has just pitted. The Aussie driver has switched from the softs to hards.
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April06202510:57 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Hamilton says ciao to Hadjar!
Meanwhile, Hamilton has overtaken Hadjar on his hards. He is now behind the two Mercedes on 7th.
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April06202510:54 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: First pit of the day!
Lap 10/53

Lance pits, switching to a set of Hard tyres. #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/FdgpDXj7XV
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) April 6, 2025
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April06202510:54 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Albon fumes!
After Max Verstappen, Williams' Alex Albon has also complained about his shifts. Oscar Piastri's rears are also deteriorating quickly. He has dropped further back with Norris still chasing Verstappen
albon pic.twitter.com/mHUQI4ayqF
— Guidao (@gu1dao) April 6, 2025
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April06202510:48 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Rain threat looms over!
Sainz is chasing Liam Lawson of the Racing Bulls for the 14th place. However, the Kiwi driver has DRS. Meanwhile, there is an update from the paddock that rain might arrive at Lap 20.
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April06202510:43 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Not so lively start!
No changes to the top 8, but there have been some overtakes down the order. Carlos Sainz had lost his place to Nico Hulkenberg, but the Spaniard did ever so well to overtake in the third lap.
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April06202510:39 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Verstappen maintains lead!
Bright start for Max Verstappen as he nails the fastest lap after the 2nd lap. He leads the McLarens. Tsunoda has got Lawson, so he is up into P13 and only four tenths behind his former teammate and Alpine's Pierre Gasly.
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April06202510:34 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: We are underway!
Max Verstappen is eyeing a fourth straight win here. However, his car isn't the fastest this season as the McLarens have looked rapid all season
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April06202510:29 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: All set for the start!
Only a few minutes left for "lights out" in Suzuka. It is still overcast, and the track temperature is far lower than it has been all weekend. Weather is definitely a concern on this damp track
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April06202510:21 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: So, how's the weather?
There was some rain in the morning, but the track has dried up pretty quickly. However, rain could continue into the early afternoon race itself. After struggling in qualifying, Lewis Hamilton said he was hoping for rain to even the field.
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April06202510:18 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Here's the starting grid!
Front row: Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull), Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)

2nd row: Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren), Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

3rd row: George Russell (GBR/Mercedes), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes)

4th row: Isack Hadjar (FRA/Racing Bulls), Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari)

5th row: Alexander Albon (THA/Williams), Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas)

6th row: Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine), Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

7th row: Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls), Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Red Bull)

8th row: Carlos Sainz (ESP/Williams), Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Sauber)

9th row: Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Sauber), Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas)

10th row: Jack Doohan (AUS/Alpine), Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)
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April06202510:05 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: What to expect?
Max Verstappen might have the pole in Suzuka, but he'll have his task cut out with two relatively-faster Mclarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri breathing down his neck. While Norris won the season-opening race in Australia, Piastri dominated his teammate in a McLaren 1-2 in China last month.
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April06202509:57 (IST)
Japanese GP Live: Hello!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix. Suzuka is all set for a corker of a race. Stay tuned for all the action, as it happens.
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Topics mentioned in this article

Red Bull

Ferrari

Mercedes Williams Alpine Aston Martin

Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton Charles Leclerc Lando Norris Oscar Piastri

Carlos Sainz Jr. Yuki Tsunoda George Russell Live Blogs Suzuka Japanese Grand Prix

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