McLaren remains the team to beat in Formula 1, but Max Verstappen’s victorious drive for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix Sunday proves only excellence is good enough. 2nd and 3rd placed Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri still have the fastest all-round car for McLaren on the F1 grid.

Max Verstappen takes his first win of the 2025 season at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, beating the dominant McLarens.

Formula 1 arrived in Japan for its third race weekend of the 2025 season, and while the Japanese Grand Prix didn't feature much passing, the race up front was close. Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri were under a three-second blanket for most of the event,