Max Verstappen has closed the early gap to Lando Norris in the Formula 1 Drivers Championship with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver and defending champion produced one of his most impressive flying laps in recent memory to secure pole on Saturday to give himself the advantage over the McLarens for Sunday's showpiece.
That ultimately proved to be the difference, Verstappen fending off the constant pressure of Norris and Oscar Piastri throughout a race that otherwise lacked incident.
Aside from a pit stop where Verstappen held his line to leave Norris - partly alongside him as they returned to the track - out of room, the Dutchman controlled in stellar style given that there were rarely more than two or three seconds between him and his British rival.
Verstappen eventually prevailed by just 1.423 seconds, Piastri less than a further back, as the trio finished well ahead of the chasing pack.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was the best of the rest, his teammate Lewis Hamilton having to make do with seventh, with the duo separated by the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Isack Hadjar, Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman would complete the top 10. Yuki Tsunoda, on his Red Bull debut, finished in 12th and outside of the points at his home race.
Bringing in the points 🔥
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
Here's your top ten from today's Japanese Grand Prix 🇯🇵#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/PEBox1K0kc
"Quite an expensive lawn mower" 😂
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
Max and Lando share a laugh over that dicey pit lane exit#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/xsjDdPhrUL
How does the Drivers Standings look?
Victory for Verstappen has moved him to within one point of Championship leader Norris, Piastri now 13 points back in third position.
Russell's consistency in the Mercedes is keeping him within touching distance, the Briton four behind adrift of Piastri, with rookie Antonelli completing the top five.
The Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton are already at risk of being cut adrift, the pair currently sixth and eighth respectively with Leclerc 29 points behind third-placed Piastri.
Bahrain hosts the fourth Grand Prix of the season next weekend.
Darren Plant
