06:04
The start
Verstappen keeps the lead into Turn 1 ahead of Norris and Piastri. Leclerc maintains fourth over Russell.
Max Verstappen leads the Japanese Grand Prix
2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix - Race Day - as it happened
Recap race day at the Japanese Grand Prix
The third race of the 2025 F1 season is here at the legendary Suzuka circuit.
Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass in qualifying to beat the two McLarens as he claimed pole position.
Lando Norris will start the race from second on the grid, with McLaren still fancying their chances of the win, given their superior car performance.
Oscar Piastri is third on the grid and knows he will need to get ahead of his teammate on Lap 1.
- The Japanese Grand Prix gets underway at 6am UK time
- How to watch 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Live stream for free
06 Apr 2025
06:03
Here we go then
The 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka is underway!
06:03
Formation lap
The formation lap is underway at Suzuka. An interesting choice by Ferrari to put Hamilton on the hards when the track is a bit damp.
05:59
Tyres
Mediums for everyone except Hamilton, Bortoleto and Ocon (hards). Doohan and Stroll (softs).
05:54
Reminder of the grid
| 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix - Starting grid | |||
| Pos | Driver | Nat. | Team |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | NED | Oracle Red Bull Racing |
| 2 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren F1 Team |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari HP |
| 5 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
| 7 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Scuderia Ferrari HP |
| 9 | Alex Albon | THA | Atlassian Williams Racing |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team |
| 11 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team |
| 14 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Oracle Red Bull Racing |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Atlassian Williams Racing |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
| 17 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team |
| 19 | Jack Doohan | AUS | BWT Alpine F1 Team |
| 20 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team |
05:50
10 minutes until lights out
Verstappen is unbeaten at Suzuka since 2022, winning the last three races in Japan.
Mercedes remained unbeaten in Japan from 2014 up until 2019, with Hamilton, Rosberg and Bottas all taking wins.
05:44
Tyre chat
Pirelli are expecting a one-stop strategy for the race.
Pirelli tyre chat
05:42
The star of the midfield
It was Isack Hadjar who starred in the midfield, beating Lewis Hamilton to secure seventh on the grid.
Hadjar battled an unusual problem in the cockpit to impress once again in qualifying. He was the second-highest Red Bull-owned car, with Liam Lawson (14th) and Yuki Tsunoda (15th).
Lawson and Tsunoda move up one place on the grid due to Carlos Sainz's penalty for impeding.
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
© XPB Images
05:31
The grid
Verstappen lines up on pole ahead of Norris, Piastri and Leclerc.
| 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix - Starting grid | |||
| Pos | Driver | Nat. | Team |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | NED | Oracle Red Bull Racing |
| 2 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren F1 Team |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari HP |
| 5 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
| 7 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Scuderia Ferrari HP |
| 9 | Alex Albon | THA | Atlassian Williams Racing |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team |
| 11 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team |
| 14 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Oracle Red Bull Racing |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Atlassian Williams Racing |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
| 17 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team |
| 19 | Jack Doohan | AUS | BWT Alpine F1 Team |
| 20 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team |
05:29
Hello
Good morning and welcome to the Crash.net live blog for race day at Suzuka.
The track is slightly damp after some rain before the race. However, it's expected to be a dry tyre start to the race.
Max Verstappen delivered one of the best pole laps of his F1 career so far as he pipped Lando Norris to pole position.
McLaren remain the favourites to win - but given how difficult it is to overtake at Suzuka - Lap 1 will be very important.
