Max Verstappen overcame intense pressure to hold off McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, securing his first win at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. The Dutch driver’s exceptional qualifying performance, which saw him secure pole position on Saturday, proved crucial in his victory.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised his driver’s performance, saying he was “inch-perfect” and that the hard work done during qualifying paid off again on Sunday. Despite Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli achieving the fastest lap of the race, Verstappen managed to maintain a two-second advantage over Norris.
Norris finished in second place, while Piastri secured third on the podium. The result sees Verstappen close the gap with Norris in the drivers’ championship, now just one point behind. “I’m incredibly happy,” Verstappen said after the race, attributing his success to the team’s car being in its best form and starting from pole position.
Carlos Sainz, who finished 14th, faced penalties for arriving late to the national anthem and a stomach issue that was diagnosed by a doctor. The FIA fined him €20,000 ($22,000), with half of the fine suspended for a year.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/06/sport/max-verstappen-japanese-grand-prix-spt-intl/index.html