\u201cWe still have work to do,\u201d Verstappen said. \u201cBut it does show if we nail everything we can be up there.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did just that.<\/p>\n
The four-time defending Formula 1 champion, Verstappen started from pole position<\/a> after setting a course-record time in qualifying, which he called \u201cinsane.\u201d Norris placed second and Piastri was third. The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day to produce an incident-free race.<\/p>\n Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc finished fourth followed by George Russell of Mercedes and teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> finished 12th in his first drive with Red Bull\u2019s top team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe keep pushing,\u201d Verstappen said. \u201cUnbelievable. A great weekend for us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo\/Shuji Kajiyama)<\/p>\n Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo\/Shuji Kajiyama)<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n \n McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo\/Hiro Komae)\n <\/p>\n McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo\/Hiro Komae)<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n \n McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo\/Hiro Komae)\n <\/p>\n McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo\/Hiro Komae)<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Norris leads the driver\u2019s standings after three of 24 races with 62 points to 61 for Verstappen.<\/p>\n The weekend turned when Verstappen took the pole on his record lap Saturday in qualifying. And there was only one incident of note in Sunday\u2019s race \u2014 one that\u2019s being dubbed the \u201cgrass-cutting moment.\u201d <\/p>\n Most of the leaders pitted around the 20-lap mark with Verstappen and Norris exiting the pits at almost exactly the same time with Norris forced to drive over the grass, unable to get by Verstappen as he tried to access the track.<\/p>\n \u201cHe drove himself into the grass,\u201d Verstappen said on the radio.<\/p>\n Norris said he had no bone to pick with Verstappen.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had the position and the right to do what he did,\u201d Norris said. \u201cHe was still ahead. It kind of squeezes into one. And Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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