Following on from his fourth consecutive Suzuka pole, Max Verstappen additionally made it 4 straight Japanese Grand Prix wins in a row. F1Technical’s senior author Balazs Szabo delivers groups’ and drivers’ reactions from Suzuka.
Regardless of a tricky begin to his Suzuka race weekend, Max Verstappen managed to show his fortunes round to take care of its dominant in Japan, having taken pole place and secured the victory on the Japanese Grand Prix over all 4 years with the present technology of vehicles.
The reigning world champion took his sixty fourth profession win whereas Pink Bull’s scored their eighth triumph in Japan and the 123rd total victory.
McLaren seemed dominant within the early phases of the Suzuka weekend, however they have been unable to transform their preliminary tempo right into a pole place or a victory. Nevertheless, they may nonetheless rejoice a double podium with Lando Norris second and Oscar Piastri third, with the English staff’s podium whole on this race now as much as 29.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli set two new information in the present day when he took the chequered flag in sixth place. He knocked Max Verstappen off the highest of the tables for the youngest driver to ever lead a Grand Prix and to set the race quickest lap.
Max Verstappen, 1st
“We couldn’t have wished for a greater outcome in the present day in our last race with Honda right here collectively. It’s been superb and I’m actually happy with what we’ve carried out this weekend. We made the entire proper calls throughout the race, have been consistently pushing and our tyres weren’t overheating a lot because of the colder tyre temperature which helped us.
“Yesterday was a stupendous day for us and the important thing to the win was to start out from pole. We maximised every little thing we might and to observe this up with the win is implausible. We all know our limitations and nonetheless have work to do. We’re simply discovering the place we are able to push the automotive to the restrict and must maximise every little thing that we are able to to get one of the best out of the automotive and make it extra balanced. Lastly, it is a good ship off for Honda and our relationship is one thing I’ll always remember.
“I’ve loved my time with them and the way they work: they’re so skilled and devoted they usually have given me a lot. Collectively to win 4 Driver’s Championships and two Constructors’ Championships is unbelievable. It did cross my thoughts while driving that it will be insane to win right here in the present day and at a house observe for Honda, in order that gave me a little bit of motivation as nicely. It’s a correct ship off and we couldn’t have wished for a greater weekend.”
Yuki Tsunoda, twelfth
“It’s robust in the present day as a result of I wished to a minimum of end within the factors. I’m pleased with the race when it comes to what I’ve learnt however not when it comes to outcome, so it’s combined emotions. I used to be feeling a number of help from the gang, each lap it felt extra and I wished to offer one thing extra again to them. No less than I do know I did the utmost I might within the race and these 53 laps gave me a lot to be taught concerning the automotive. I now know what sort of issues I must work on.
“I used to be caught behind vehicles all day in site visitors so it’s onerous to know the total race tempo of this automotive however, each lap of the 53, I used to be increase my confidence within the automotive. That confidence stage is now fully totally different from the start of the weekend to now, I really feel constructive about that, however I’m nonetheless upset as a result of it’s a residence Grand Prix and it’s solely annually.
“I must reset earlier than Bahrain and I’m certain in comparison with what I used to be feeling, when it comes to automotive and when it comes to confidence it’s going to naturally be higher there. I’ll perceive extra concerning the automotive, and I’m excited for the subsequent one, I simply must do higher in qualifying. An enormous congrats to Max, it’s good to see one of many Honda engines win at our residence Grand Prix, of their last yr of collaborating with Pink Bull.
“And at last, a particular due to the Japanese followers, I really feel like there have been greater than ever on the observe and I really feel very honoured to signify them. I’m very blissful to have the ability to drive in entrance of them as an Oracle Red Bull Racing driver, with a Honda engine.”
Lando Norris, 2nd
“A troublesome race in the present day, it was flat-out from begin to end however the tempo was too much like do something. Max drove a superb race with no errors, and it in the end got here all the way down to Qualifying positions in the present day. It’s nonetheless been an excellent weekend for the staff securing extra factors collectively, however we are going to proceed to work onerous as we head to the subsequent one in Bahrain.”
Oscar Piastri, third
“A very good haul of factors and a pleasant outcome for the staff. I feel the tempo in the present day was actually good and I used to be very pleased with that. We received shut for the overtake a number of instances, however observe place round right here is simply so vital. I feel yesterday was the day the place you successfully gained the race, and we simply didn’t put all of it collectively, so I will completely take the rostrum. We go to Bahrain with a number of positives, and able to problem once more.”
Time to tackle the Suzuka rollercoaster 🎢 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/IdzVtAbMuo
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 6, 2025
Lewis Hamilton, seventh
“That was a tricky race for us in the present day. We didn’t have the tempo to problem the highest three, and that’s one thing we’ll be working onerous to deal with forward of the subsequent rounds. I went with a setup that felt good total, nevertheless it simply didn’t give me every little thing I wanted on the market.
“The staff’s been doing an unimaginable job, and we’ll maintain pushing collectively to seek out these features. The followers have been superb all weekend – their power and help means quite a bit.”
Charles Leclerc, 4th
“It was a little bit of a lonely race for me in the present day. P4 just isn’t a outcome we’re ever happy with, however trying on the positives of this weekend, the work we did on Friday when it comes to set-up adjustment and the learnings we take into the subsequent races have paid off. We made good progress, however we’ve to maintain our heads down and maintain working earlier than we come to any conclusions.
“The entrance runners nonetheless have fairly a bonus when it comes to tempo. For now, we’ve to deal with maximizing the factors we deliver residence, which we did in the present day, and hopefully later within the season we are able to struggle for the highest positions.”
George Russell, fifth
“In the present day’s race was a irritating one. With the highest six vehicles all ending the place they began, it was a Grand Prix dictated by yesterday’s qualifying efficiency. It was a comparatively simple one-stop technique and, on a circuit that could be very tough to overhaul at, there have been few alternatives to make ahead progress.
“We tried our greatest to make the undercut work on Leclerc on the finish of our first stint. Sadly, we didn’t fairly have the tempo to tug it off with the site visitors that we needed to clear in these two laps. No matter technique we had tried although, I feel we’d have in the end completed P5.
“Our frustration primarily comes from the truth that we didn’t optimise qualifying yesterday. With the tempo we confirmed over observe, we had a automotive that would have been competing for the entrance two rows of the grid. It’s the first qualifying session of the yr the place we haven’t maximised our full potential. That was a disgrace, however we are able to bounce again right away in Bahrain. It’s a very totally different observe to Suzuka, a lot hotter and a extra abrasive circuit. Will probably be fascinating to see the place everybody’s relative efficiency is and goes to be one other take a look at for everybody.”
Kimi Antonelli, sixth
“In the present day was a superb race from my aspect. I’m pleased with the way it went and the velocity we have been capable of present. As soon as I received in free air, the tempo actually improved, and I used to be capable of lengthen my stint on the Medium tyre. That was a superb feeling. As soon as we switched to the Laborious tyre, the automotive nonetheless felt constructive. I used to be capable of put in some constant lap instances.
“I used to be catching the vehicles forward however ran out of time ultimately to get on the again of them. It was additionally a pleasant feeling to guide the race for a number of laps and change into the youngest driver in F1 historical past to have carried out so. The following aim is to try this on the one lap that issues: the ultimate one!
“It has been a superb weekend total. It’s an ideal observe and one which I felt that I used to be getting on prime of by the top of the weekend. Each time I get within the automotive, I’m constructing my studying and feeling extra comfy with the W16. I’m trying ahead to heading to Bahrain. Hopefully we are able to maintain enhancing and start to struggle for a few of the positions additional ahead than we managed in the present day.”
Isack Hadjar, eighth
“That was an extended and exhausting race, however we did the utmost we might have carried out in the present day, and actually, I really feel like we executed an ideal race, so a really nicely carried out to the staff. Attaining P8 was our goal in the present day as Lewis was out of attain. We put all of it collectively maximizing our efficiency, and due to this fact we’ve been capable of obtain this outcome on advantage, with out benefitting from any problems with the others.
“I couldn’t be happier to be rewarded with my first factors in F1 right here in Suzuka after a weekend like that. I felt comfy within the automotive and I feel it suited me very nicely. In the present day there was virtually no degradation on observe, so I used to be flat out all time and I didn’t actually go away something on the desk. Now we take a look at racing in Bahrain subsequent week, and it provides us confidence as I feel we may be up there too.”
Liam Lawson, seventeenth
“Firstly, an enormous nicely carried out to Isack for getting his first factors in F1 in the present day, he did an ideal job. On our aspect, it was a tricky begin, lap one was fairly tough; I went a bit bit vast in flip 13, after which it was only a prepare from there. It was onerous to overhaul, however I don’t assume from the place we have been it will have been potential to maneuver from there.
“There’s been positives to take from this weekend, usually, the automotive has been fairly good, clearly it takes a while to regulate and get used to it. It’s been a fairly loopy few weeks and months, I simply need to get right into a groove and get racing. We get to go once more subsequent week with a brand new fashion of observe, so we’ll maintain chipping away.”
Alex Albon, ninth
“We’ve been experimenting with shift settings all weekend and we thought we’d lastly landed on one thing we have been pleased with. Seems, it truly felt significantly better in Qualifying than it did within the race.
“The automotive wasn’t simple to drive within the circumstances both. In Apply on Friday, the wind suited us extra, nevertheless it was fully totally different in the present day. We nonetheless scored factors although! It simply exhibits that even on days after we’re not that optimum, we’re capable of rating factors. In that sense, I’m very blissful.”
Carlos Sainz, 14th
“Sadly, as anticipated, it was a tough race caught in site visitors after a expensive Saturday, with some particulars to shine in Qualifying after which the penalty. On a constructive be aware, I feel the tempo was there in the present day. I used to be comfy with the automotive, managed to do some good overtakes and total learnt quite a bit on the market on observe.
“Now the main focus is to hold the constructive feeling of this weekend on to the subsequent GPs and construct from right here. As soon as I begin placing every little thing collectively, I do know higher outcomes will come. On to Bahrain!”
Esteban Ocon, 18th
“The purpose was to select up a Security Automobile as we began on the onerous compound – we didn’t have a lot to lose attempting this technique – and nonetheless managed to get a superb begin. Sadly, and not using a Security Automobile it wasn’t one of the best technique and we knew that, we tried our greatest – however it’s extra knowledge, and extra info to check for subsequent race. The vital factor is that we switch the great efficiency we noticed on Ollie’s automotive, so a giant nicely carried out to him, and to the staff for bringing updates after Australia.”
Oliver Bearman, tenth
“I feel we achieved the utmost in the present day, not fairly sufficient tempo to struggle the Williams or the VCARB so P10 it’s, however I loved my lonely race. Australia was a giant shock, and China was a fair greater shock for all of us as to return again with such nice tempo with out altering something on the automotive.
“This weekend we introduced a barely totally different ground to assist the bouncing we’ve been fighting and it looks like to this point, so good. We now have a number of positives from this weekend so we’ll take a degree and look ahead to Bahrain.”
From dawn on the entrance gates to cheers lengthy after the chequered flag.
Japan, your power and keenness is unmatched. #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/QP4PcPmmje
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Staff (@AstonMartinF1) April 6, 2025
Fernando Alonso, eleventh
“It was a tough race in the present day at Suzuka and regardless of our greatest efforts we missed out on the factors. The primary half of the race I had Pierre [Gasly] inside one-second after which Yuki [Tsunoda] shut for the second half of the race, so I could not make a mistake. Suzuka is a good circuit, and I actually get pleasure from racing right here, nevertheless it’s very onerous to overhaul on this observe. We have to enhance our automotive efficiency going ahead and I am trying ahead to that improvement.”
Lance Stroll, twentieth
“In the end there wasn’t a lot we might do in the present day – we tried to make up some positions initially, nevertheless it wasn’t potential. It was nonetheless a possibility to be taught what we might, with set-ups for Bahrain, and we’ll take that ahead. It was simply a type of days and we are going to see what we are able to do subsequent weekend.”
Pierre Gasly, thirteenth
“It was not our race in the present day and there are positively a number of issues for us to analyse. It felt like we did every little thing we might when it comes to efficiency. The automotive felt good, nicely balanced and we all know the place we’re missing a little bit of tempo. It was an intense first lap, fairly dicey with Fernando [Alonso] and we missed out on a spot there even when it was a enjoyable battle.
“We misplaced a little bit of time on the pit-stop so we’ll overview what occurred there and we all know how vital observe place is round right here when it comes to site visitors and tempo administration. We gave it our greatest and it was not sufficient to be close to the factors. We now have a superb likelihood subsequent week in Bahrain the place the automotive appeared to carry out nicely in pre-season testing. Situations might be totally different to then, although, nevertheless it’s an opportunity to reset and hopefully we are able to come away with a significantly better end result.”
Jack Doohan, fifteenth
“It was good to get one other full race distance underneath my belt and proceed to achieve expertise and understanding of the bundle. Given our beginning place, we went extra aggressive with tyre technique with the Softs initially, which allowed us to assault and gave us one of the best likelihood to maneuver ahead with the undercut.
“That additionally meant we ran an extended second stint on the Laborious tyres [38 laps] and needed to defend in direction of the top. I feel we did nicely to maintain Nico [Hülkenberg] at bay, nevertheless it was a pity we couldn’t maintain Carlos [Sainz] behind on the newer Softs.
“It was constructive to maneuver ahead at a observe that’s tough to overhaul and the race tempo additionally felt sturdy regardless of no excessive gas working. We are going to take a few days between races to relaxation and get better. I’m trying ahead to going once more in Bahrain the place the circumstances might be fully totally different once more.”
Nico Hulkenberg, sixteenth
“The automotive didn’t really feel too unhealthy in the present day, and I might have appreciated the prospect to discover its full potential a bit extra. However Suzuka is a observe the place overtaking is notoriously tough, and that actually outlined the race. I spent more often than not in site visitors, which made it onerous to make any actual progress and in the end turned it into a reasonably uneventful race.
“That’s clearly a bit irritating. We all know there’s nonetheless work to do – each when it comes to total tempo and automotive traits – and in the present day’s race underlined that after once more. It‘s nonetheless early within the season and we proceed to be taught with each race weekend.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, nineteenth
“Though I used to be clearly aiming for greater than the ultimate outcome, I’m leaving Suzuka happy with how the weekend unfolded. I’ve discovered quite a bit – it’s been a gentle studying curve since Melbourne, and I’m feeling extra in management with every session. I need to thank the staff each trackside and again at base in Hinwil for this, as they’re all the time by my aspect with their unwavering help.
“Sadly, I didn’t get off to one of the best begin in the present day and located myself behind the pack. Climbing again by way of the sphere proved tough, particularly at a circuit like Suzuka the place overtaking is notoriously robust. I’m taking all of the expertise and learnings with me as we head to Bahrain for the second leg of this triple header.”
