I Watched the Japanese Grand Prix So You Wouldn't Have To

Naomi Blair
Apr 9
3 min read

Remember when I said that the Japanese Grand Prix would "be the most exciting one yet given the driver switch-ups and unpredictable weather conditions"? I was sorely mistaken, this Grand Prix was definitely not worth waking up early for, unless you are a Max Verstappen fan. But even so, nothing exciting happened. No overtakes. Nothing. Even drivers were surprised at the lack of excitement. The highlight of the race was Lando driving onto the grass during his pit exit, and maybe, perhaps, Albon's heated radio messages.

This Grand Prix brought more frustration than action: McLaren messed up their strategy, not allowing Lando and Piastri to swap places so that Piastri could challenge Verstappen for first place; Tsunoda's pace was very good during practice, however, his qualifying result was disappointing which ultimately led him to finishing in 12th place.

With that out of the way, let us go through a quick rundown of the Japanese Grand Prix. What were the results? What are the current Driver’s and Constructors championship standings? And most importantly, how are my fantasy teams doing?

Results of the Grand Prix

Position	Driver	Time/Retired	Points
1	Verstappen	1:22:06.983	25
2	Norris	+1.423	18
3	Piastri	+2.129	15
4	Leclerc	+16.097	12
5	Russell	+17.362	10
6	Antonelli	+18.671	8
7	Hamilton	+29.182	6
8	Hadjar	+37.134	4
9	Albon	+40.367	2
10	Bearman	+54.529	1
11	Alonso	+57.333	0
12	Tsunoda	+58.401	0
13	Gasly	+62.122	0
14	Sainz	+74.129	0
15	Doohan	+81.314	0
16	Hulkenberg	+81.957	0
17	Lawson	+82.734	0
18	Ocon	+83.438	0
19	Bortoletto	+83.897s	0
20	Stroll	+1 lap	0

Team By Team Rundown

Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen - 1st

Achieved his first win of the 2025 season and fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka, leading from pole position. Despite a slightly slow pit stop that allowed McLaren's Lando Norris to challenge briefly, Verstappen maintained control to secure the win.

Yuki Tsunoda - 12th

In his debut race for Red Bull at his home Grand Prix, Tsunoda finished 12th. He faced challenges making progress through the field but was voted Driver of the Day by fans. 

McLaren

Lando Norris - 2nd

Secured second place, closely trailing Verstappen. He challenged for the lead during the pit stop phase but ultimately couldn't overtake. Norris acknowledged that qualifying had largely determined the race outcome.

Oscar Piastri - 3rd

Celebrated his 24th birthday with a third-place finish. He closed in on Norris during the final laps but couldn't advance further. Piastri noted that an underwhelming qualifying performance hindered his final result.

Andrea Stella (Team Principal): Emphasized the team's strategy prioritizes collective success over individual ambitions, focusing on the broader 24-race championship and securing McLaren’s position in the constructors' standings.