Max Verstappen secured a hard-fought victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, holding off McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a race that was defined by constant pressure. This victory, Verstappen’s fourth consecutive win at Suzuka, narrowed the gap to just one point between him and Norris in the drivers’ championship standings.
Verstappen’s performance was stellar, maintaining a cool head under relentless challenge from the McLarens, with the gap rarely exceeding two seconds. His pole position lap on Saturday set the stage for his race-long dominance. McLaren had anticipated difficulty in overtaking the Red Bull, and it became evident as Verstappen led throughout the first stint.
Pitting strategies raised some eyebrows, particularly McLaren’s decision to pit Piastri before Norris. Despite Norris being within range for an undercut, McLaren opted to pit Piastri first to avoid an undercut from Mercedes’ George Russell. On the same lap, both Verstappen and Norris pitted, but a brief clash saw Norris run off track after Verstappen held his line. Stewards ruled in favor of Verstappen, who maintained that Norris had driven off on his own.
For the remaining 32 laps, Norris and Piastri couldn’t close the gap, with the two McLarens often within two seconds of Verstappen. Piastri, showing strong pace, hinted at a desire to pass Norris but was not permitted. The top three finished in the same order they had raced, with Verstappen narrowly ahead.
Piastri’s third-place finish puts him ahead of Russell in the standings, and Verstappen credited his victory to a strong start and continuous car improvements. Despite the intense race, Norris acknowledged Verstappen’s deserving win, noting the similarity in pace between the competitors.
