After the Japanese Grand Prix, we examine the main talking points from the third race of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen Reasserts Dominance
Until the very end of Saturday`s qualifying at Suzuka, many believed McLaren was poised for a one-two finish in both qualifying and the race. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had each secured a win and a pole position in the previous two races, and they seemed to be leading the pack after practice sessions.
When Norris briefly outpaced Piastri in the final qualifying runs, a McLaren front row looked likely. However, Max Verstappen was still on his last lap. The media center, overlooking the final corner, gradually realized Verstappen was about to deliver a surprise. The crowd`s reaction in the grandstands confirmed it: Verstappen had achieved an unexpected pole position.
Overtaking proved extremely difficult during the race due to turbulent air. Verstappen, starting from pole, controlled the race flawlessly, securing his fourth consecutive win at Suzuka.
While Verstappen`s championship chances were never dismissed, his performance in Japan, bringing him within a point of Norris in the standings, has temporarily quieted discussions of a McLaren intra-team rivalry reminiscent of Hamilton and Rosberg.
McLaren`s Strategy Questioned
Lando Norris has emphasized McLaren`s driver lineup as a key advantage. He and Piastri understand the MCL39 car well, contributing to setup optimization and car development. However, in Japan, having two competitive drivers presented a strategic challenge.
McLaren had a two-on-one situation against Verstappen before the pit stops but didn`t capitalize on it. They pitted Piastri first from third place instead of attempting to undercut Verstappen with Norris, who was second. When the leading pair pitted a lap later, only a slow Red Bull pit stop briefly gave Norris a chance, which Verstappen quickly shut down.
McLaren explained that pitting Piastri first was to prevent him from being undercut by trailing cars. However, this decision prioritized track position over giving Norris a chance to challenge Verstappen. Some speculate McLaren avoided risking a driver order change and a potential repeat of a team order situation like in Hungary 2024.
Ultimately, McLaren`s strategy made it easier for Verstappen and Red Bull. Norris himself questioned the strategy after the race, raising questions about the dynamics of having strong teammates.
Tsunoda`s Home Race Spotlight
Despite Verstappen`s victory, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull`s new teammate, was under intense scrutiny at his home race in Suzuka. Tsunoda`s recent promotion to Red Bull from Racing Bulls, replacing Liam Lawson, occurred just two races into the season.
Tsunoda appeared composed in media interactions and showed decent pace in practice. However, a mistake in Q2 qualifying led to a 14th place start, behind Lawson. Due to overtaking difficulties, he finished 12th, missing his goal of scoring points. Red Bull praised his overall performance, noting his more conservative car setup compared to Verstappen, understandable for his first race with the team. As Tsunoda becomes more comfortable with the RB21, their approach will be interesting to observe. The intense focus on Tsunoda will likely diminish, allowing him to concentrate on proving his place at the front.
Ferrari`s Struggles Continue
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari`s team principal, might have been relieved by the attention on Red Bull`s driver swap, diverting focus from Ferrari`s own issues. News of the Red Bull swap emerged around the same time as Ferrari`s double disqualification from the previous race in China.
Ferrari`s underwhelming weekend in Japan, with Charles Leclerc finishing fourth and Lewis Hamilton seventh, would have drawn more criticism if not for the Red Bull driver change. The quick turnaround to the next race in Bahrain may limit scrutiny of Ferrari`s problems.
Hamilton mentioned Ferrari`s setup limitations due to plank wear issues and an underperforming element on his car compared to Leclerc`s. Radio communications hinted at frustration from both drivers. Ferrari, expected to challenge McLaren, has been disappointing apart from Hamilton`s Sprint victory in China.
It`s unclear if Ferrari`s issues are setup-related or require upgrades. Their performance in Bahrain will be crucial.
Rookie Performances and Doohan`s Crash
Jack Doohan`s weekend began poorly with a high-speed crash in practice after failing to deactivate DRS. Alpine`s decision to run Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa in place of Doohan in FP1, limiting Doohan`s track time, is questionable. While potentially sponsorship-related, it doesn`t excuse Doohan`s error.
Despite a better race, the crash intensifies speculation about Doohan`s replacement by Franco Colapinto, who will test for Alpine in Bahrain. On a brighter note, Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered his best performance, finishing sixth for Mercedes and showing strong pace relative to George Russell.
Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls also impressed, qualifying seventh and finishing eighth, scoring his first F1 points after overcoming a seatbelt issue in qualifying. Oliver Bearman for Haas continued his strong season, finishing 10th and outperforming teammate Esteban Ocon.
