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Four-time world champion Max Verstappen led from pole to chequered flag to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren's Lando Norris coming in second.
The Dutch Red Bull driver crossed the finish line almost 1.5 seconds before Briton Norris, who held off his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri of Australia in third.
The win on a damp but drying track at Suzuka was Verstappen's fourth straight victory in Japan and closed the gap on Norris at the top of the drivers' championship to one point.
Norris has 62 points after three races, with Verstappen on 61 and Piastri third on 49.
"It was tough. The McLarens were pushing me very hard," said Verstappen.
"It was a lot of fun but not easy pushing the tyres. I am incredibly happy.
"Starting on pole made it possible to win."
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth ahead of the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was seventh, with RB's Isack Hadjar next ahead of Williams' Alex Albon and Haas's Oliver Bearman.
Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first race for Red Bull since replacing Liam Lawson, starting from 14th on the grid in his home Grand Prix. Lawson was 17th for RB.
Norris said the race was won and lost in qualifying, where Verstappen pulled off a lap for the ages to claim his first pole of the season with a new lap record.
"Max drove a good race today, made no mistakes," said Norris, who started from second on the grid.
"A flat-out race from start to finish, so it was tough, but there was nothing we could get Max on."
Lando onto the grass ????
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
A heart in mouth moment for the championship leader at Suzuka!#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/WX3lwgs97d
Norris drew alongside Verstappen, but the Dutchman refused to budge, forcing Norris onto the grass before sliding back onto the track.
The stewards reviewed the incident and decided not to investigate further, and Norris admitted later that it was just part of racing.
"Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space, in a good way, in a racing way," he said.
Verstappen has struggled to get to grips with his Red Bull this season, finishing second in Australia and fourth in China.
But he set a stunning pole lap, and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Verstappen's efforts to keep the team in the title race.
