In Pictures: Japan 2025
Suzuka is one of the most spectacular and demanding tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. It is also the only circuit of the season with a figure-of-eight layout. Located in Japan’s Mie Prefecture, the venue is owned by Honda, whose Suzuka factory—built in 1960—is one of its main sites in the country. The track is known for challenging both car and driver. Measuring 5.807 kilometers in length, it features 18 corners, some of which have become legendary in motorsport history, including the Esses in the first sector and the high-speed 130R. Remarkably, Suzuka has remained largely unchanged over the years.
The land of cherry blossoms, known in Japanese as Sakura, has hosted 40 Formula 1 World Championship Grands Prix to date. The first was held in 1976, and a total of three different circuits have staged races. In 1994 and 1995, the Aida circuit hosted what was known as the Pacific Grand Prix. There have been 38 editions of the official Japanese Grand Prix, with four (1976, 1977, 2007, and 2008) taking place at Fuji Speedway, while the remaining 34 have all been held at Suzuka, beginning in 1987.
FRIDAY
All three compounds were used in both free practice sessions. However, track time in the second session was cut to just 21 minutes due to four red flags—first from crashes involving Jack Doohan (Alpine) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), followed by two incidents where small patches of grass at the trackside caught fire. As a result, no driver managed more than three flying laps at a time.
Oscar Piastri set the fastest time on the opening day of free practice for the Japanese Grand Prix. The McLaren driver topped the timesheets in the second session with a lap of 1:28.114, 0.083 seconds quicker than Max Verstappen’s 2024 pole position time in the Red Bull. McLaren also led the way in the first session—the only uninterrupted one—where Lando Norris was fastest with a 1:28.549.
SATURDAY
On Saturday at Suzuka, Max Verstappen delivered what was surely one of the greatest of his 41 career pole positions, capping off qualifying with a stunning final lap of 1:26.983—a new track record. It marked the Dutchman’s first pole since last year’s Austrian Grand Prix and his fourth in a row at Suzuka, meaning he’s been fastest in qualifying at this circuit every year since the current generation of cars was introduced. It was also Red Bull’s ninth pole at the Japanese Grand Prix and the team’s 104th overall.
Verstappen edged out both McLarens by the slimmest of margins: Lando Norris was just 0.012 seconds behind in second, with Oscar Piastri third, 0.044 seconds off the pace.
The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by four-time Grand Prix winner Jean Alesi.
SUNDAY
Following his fourth consecutive pole position at Suzuka, Max Verstappen also made it four straight wins at the Japanese Grand Prix. It was a triumphant weekend for the four-time world champion, who has been utterly dominant at this track on both Saturday and Sunday across all four years of the current car generation.
Sunday’s victory marked the Dutchman’s 64th career win, Red Bull’s eighth in Japan, and the 123rd overall for the Christian Horner-led team.
McLaren celebrated a double podium with Lando Norris second and Oscar Piastri third, bringing the English team’s tally at this race to 29 podium finishes.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli set two new records by finishing sixth. He dethroned Max Verstappen as the youngest driver to lead a Grand Prix and to set the fastest lap in a race.
What this race tells us heading into the rest of the season is that—even if McLaren might now have the fastest car—you can never count out Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, or even the weather. 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable season.
NEXT STOP: BAHRAIN 🇧🇭
Excerpts from this article provided by Pirelli S.p.A. Photographs courtesy of Formula 1 teams and partners.
