Max Verstappen clinched a stunning and unexpected victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, holding off the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The result was surprising given that Red Bull had been considered only the third or fourth fastest team entering the weekend.
With this triumph, Verstappen made history by winning his fourth consecutive race at Suzuka, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s streak of three wins at the iconic Japanese circuit between 2000 and 2002. The achievement carries extra significance, not just because of Suzuka’s legendary status in Formula 1, but also due to Red Bull’s connection with Honda, whose engines have powered Verstappen to many of his career milestones.
Honda will be ending its partnership with Red Bull in 2026, opting to join forces with Aston Martin instead. This weekend’s race served as a symbolic farewell for Verstappen and the Japanese manufacturer, and the emotional weight of the occasion was evident in Verstappen’s demeanor.
After the race, Verstappen received high praise over the radio from his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who described the performance as “perfection.” Verstappen responded with gratitude and joy, celebrating the team’s persistence and determination to keep pushing despite a rough start to the weekend.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner joined in the congratulations, calling it “one of your finest weekends ever” and labeling the performance as “truly inspirational.”
The Dutchman had already displayed strong emotion following his pole position on Saturday, and after climbing out of the car on Sunday, he shared just how much the win meant to him. He spoke about the tough start to the weekend, the team’s relentless effort to improve the car, and how they managed to reach peak performance when it mattered most. Verstappen specifically highlighted how important it was for him to win in Honda’s home country, calling it the perfect way to cap off their successful partnership.
During the race, Verstappen’s main challenge came from Norris, especially during a tense moment as they exited the pit lane side-by-side. Nevertheless, Verstappen maintained composure and kept his lead, eventually crossing the line just over a second ahead of Norris.
Verstappen’s record of four straight wins at Suzuka stands above both Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, who each managed only two in a row despite their dominant eras with Mercedes and Red Bull, respectively. This underlines the magnitude of Verstappen’s achievement, especially considering the competitive disadvantage Red Bull appeared to have going into the weekend.
Helmut Marko, head of Red Bull’s driver development program, added to the accolades, stating that Verstappen didn’t make a single mistake and drove on the edge throughout the race. He emphasized that while the McLaren may have been faster on paper, Verstappen masterfully managed the race from start to finish.
The final race standings saw Verstappen finish first, followed closely by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli completed the top six. Lewis Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari, came in seventh, ahead of Isack Hadjar, Alexander Albon, and Oliver Bearman, who rounded out the top ten and earned the final point.
Notably, Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, and Pierre Gasly finished outside the points, while Lance Stroll was the only driver to be lapped.
This performance not only marked a memorable chapter in Verstappen’s career but also reinforced his reputation as one of the most skilled and composed drivers in Formula 1 history.