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JAPANESE GP: Untouchable Verstappen Crushes Suzuka Qualifying

Max Verstappen snatches pole from both McLarens with a qualifying masterclass at the Japanese GP.

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3 months ago

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SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 05: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 05, 2025 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202504050224 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen delivered a statement of pure masterclass and dominance at the 2025 Japanese GP, storming to pole position with a robust lap time of 1:26.983, setting a new all-time lap record at the Suzuka Circuit. The Dutch lion roared through Suzuka, pushing the RB21 to extraordinary limits. He seized Suzukaā€™s iconic figure-eight circuit, setting a blistering lap time that put Red Bull firmly in control ahead of Sundayā€™s race. The Red Bull RB21, perfectly mastered up, allowing Verstappen to unleash his trademark blend of precision and aggression. Sector after sector, he pushed the boundaries, carving through the Esses and attacking the Casio Triangle with ruthless efficiency.

“‘That is insane. Every session we just kept on making little improvements, I think that is where we made the difference and the last lap was just flat out.We will look to tomorrow and do our best.ā€
– Verstappen(post qualifying)

While Verstappen celebrated, his rivals were left scratching their heads. Ferrari and Mercedes simply couldnā€™t match Red Bullā€™s raw pace, while McLarenā€™s hopes faded in the final sector. Verstappen’s confidence was unwavering, and with Red Bullā€™s race pace looking just as strong, Sunday could see yet another commanding performance from the Dutchman.

McLaren Takes the Fight to Red Bull in Suzuka

McLaren advanced to Suzuka with high hopes, aiming for complete domination at one of the most demanding circuits on the F1 calendar. After looking competitive in practice, Lando Norris secured P2 with a stellar lap, just 0.173s behind Verstappen, while Oscar Piastri slotted into P3, reinforcing McLarenā€™s growing reputation as Red Bullā€™s main challenger. However, while the results were encouraging, the disappointment was clearā€”pole was within reach, but Verstappen snatched it away. They will look to mount a double attack on Verstappen for the Japanese GP.

ā€œIt was a really good session for us, but honestly, Iā€™m a little frustrated. We had the pace to fight for pole, and I felt like my lap was strong, but Max just found a little more. Still, P2 is a great place to start, and we have a real shot tomorrow.ā€ – Lando Norris (Post Qualifying)

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Ferrari Fails to Deliver: Another Missed Opportunity at Suzuka

The 2025 Japanese GP Qualifying presented a mix of idealism and challenges for Scuderia Ferrari. Leclerc flaunted a pre-eminent performance, while Hamilton struggled to get tenths out of the car. The Monegasque demonstrated the potential of the SF-25, achieving a fourth-place qualification to combat the front row. Conversely, Lewis Hamilton encountered obstacles during qualifying, commencing with an eighth-place start. Despite recent updates to his SF-25, including modifications to the steering wheel to better suit his preferences, Hamilton was unable to unlock its full potential.

Steady Progress: Mercedes Positions Itself for a Strong Race

The Suzuka Circuit, known for its high-speed corners and technical demands, exposed certain limitations in the Mercedes W16’s straight-line speed. George Russell delivered a solid performance, securing P5 in a tightly contested session. Reflecting on the session, Russell raised hats to the team’s efforts but recognised the urge for further improvements to bridge the gap to the front-runners.

George Russel on track at Suzuka during Japanese GP - Photo - LAT Images
George Russel on track at Suzuka – Photo – LAT Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, stepping in as a rookie, showcased remarkable composure and skill by qualifying sixth. His performance indicates a promising future and adds depth to Mercedes’ driver lineup.

Williams Breaks the Top 10 Barrier after 3 years at Suzuka

Alex Albon’s best effort was only 0.632 off the leader with a 1:27.615 lap that saw him just five milliseconds from the fourth row in P9. It was a close call in qualifying’s final minutes, with Carlos Sainz only 0.053s away from the Q3 cut off. The ‘Carbono’ pair pushed their machines to the limit but ultimately secured positions which was not gratifying , reflecting the intense competition and the circuit’s complexities.ā€‹

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Despite the setbacks in qualifying, the Williams team remains optimistic. The engineers and strategists are analyzing data to devise race strategies that could capitalize on any opportunities during the Grand Prix.

Rookie Sensation: Hadjar and Ollie Stun in Suzuka Qualifying

Racing Bulls’ rookie Isack Hadjar delivered an awe-inspiring performance during the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session at Suzuka, securing the seventh position on the grid. Hadjar encountered seatbelt issues during the qualifying rounds, requiring urgent mechanical attention from his team. Despite these setbacks, he managed to return to the track and post a competitive lap time, unveiling his confidence and resilience during tough times.

JAPANESE GP: Untouchable Verstappen Crushes Suzuka Qualifying
Isack Hadjar on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool)

Ollie Bearman, the Haas rookie, delivered a monumental performance at the Japanese GP Qualifying, edging past his teammate Esteban Ocon. He managed to secure P10 – his best qualifying result to date. After facing challenges in the initial races of the season, including a difficult debut in Australia, this result marks a significant step forward for the young driver. Bearman’s achievement is a huge boost to the Haas team. This result at Suzuka underscores the team’s progress and the effective collaboration between drivers and engineers.

The Battle Ahead

Despite the small gap in qualifying, race day remains unpredictable. Suzukaā€™s high tire degradation and unpredictable weather could play a role, and if McLaren can stay within striking distance, a strong undercut or bold strategy could see them take the fight to Verstappen.

JAPANESE GP: Untouchable Verstappen Crushes Suzuka Qualifying

All eyes are on Sunday.

Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime

The Formula 1 British Grand Prix was a story to tell for most drivers. A dream podium, a home race win, rain chaos, and multiple DNFs, the British GP had everything on offer.

Published

6 days ago

on

July 10, 2025

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Lando Norris wins the Formula 1 British Grand Prix

Whenever Formula 1 visits Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, it always comes out with one hell of a weekend, and this race was no different. It had everything you would want when you’re sitting in front of the screen on a Sunday afternoon with a drink in hand. There was rain, there was chaos, there was even Nico Hulkenberg on the podium, a race full of uncertainties.

Controversial Home Race Win

Lando Norris made it two wins in a row on Sunday, beating teammate Oscar Piastri to the finish line. Oscar led most of the race until a 10-second time penalty for reckless driving was given to him after he slammed on the brakes aggressively, causing Max Verstappen to take evasive action. Soon after the restart, Mav was overtaken by Lando Norris, which put him in the net race lead. Which shortly after the pit stop onto slicks, turned into P1 on track as Oscar served his penalty.

Lando joined the club of 8 time race winners, an A-list with some great names, and what a way to do it by winning your home race.

Embed from Getty Images

Hulkenburg Counters The Odds


Nico Hulkenberg writes a story of his own, 239 Race Starts, and the man in green has gotten himself and Sauber a podium. After 15 long years, the wait came to an end, and the stars finally aligned. Following the rainy chaos, Nico made all the right calls to propel himself up the order. He was running P4 behind Lance Stroll, where an overtake on the Aston followed shortly after.

In the dying laps, he was being chased by a desperate Lewis Hamilton in Scarlet Red. However, he kept his cool and achieved what everyone thought was impossible.



The Streak Ends With Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton had a 13-year-long streak of scoring podiums at his home race. However, the tale must come to an end. Lewis Hamilton fell one position short of the podium, a valiant effort from the Brit. He expressed his disappointment in a post-race review, saying he was not at all happy about the race.


Charles Leclerc, on the other side of the garage, had a worse day. Jumping the gun on the slick tires early was a gamble he made, but it was a gamble that did not work. Later on, he struggled with tires following a series of VSCs, he even had an off at Beckets, cutting across the grass to add to his dismay. At the end, no points were scored by the Monegasque, a day to write off for him.

Mercedes Missed Out On An Opportunity

Following reports of talks between Max and Mercedes, they were in the spotlight coming into this weekend. A decent qualifying from the pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli gave them a fighting chance on Sunday. George called the change onto slicks at the end of the formation lap, and Kimi was rear-ended by Isack Hadjar, causing heavy damage to his diffuser, resulting in a retirement. George kept being in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately crossing the line in P10, scoring one singular point.

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime
British Grand Prix, Sunday. Photo: Glenn Dunbar

Verstappen Struggles On Track

Red Bull ran a low downforce setup for the race, which cost them when a rain shower had showered on the track. Max was caught sliding on multiple corner exits due to the lack of downforce. Despite this, he held a strong challenge for the starting half of the race. However, at the Safety Car restart, he had a spin on the entry of the Vale chicane.

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 06, 2025 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

A good recovery by the Dutchman limited damage and placed him P10. From there, a decent effort to fight back moved him up into P5, scoring decent points. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda found it difficult, saying he did not know why the pace of the car disappeared in the race. He finished P15, last of the classified drivers.

Williams Return To Points

After a treacherous recent few rounds for the Williams outfit, finally, some luck struck with a points finish. Although Carlos missed out on points by a slim margin, teammate Alex Albon scored a respectable P8 in changing conditions

Aston Get Two Cars Into The Top 10

Both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso secured a points finish on Sunday, even though both of them complained about the car and the package after the race.

Lance, at one point, was running in the podium positions, but he was overtaken by Nico shortly after. He ended up crossing the line in P6. Tire degradation was a prominent issue in the car, according to him in a post-race interview.

Fernando scored P8, but he showed frustration at the team’s strategy and how they always get it wrong for him.

Race Results



Standings




Next Round In Spa

For the next race weekend, we head to the hilly forest of Spa-Francorchamps. A part home race for Lando and Max. The high-speed spectacle is sure to put on a show, the longest track on the F1 Calendar includes many overtaking spots and iconic corners such as Eau Rouge and Radillon

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Formula One’s Constant: The British GP

Published

2 weeks ago

on

July 5, 2025

By

Formula One's Constant: The British GP

The F1 Paddock heads to Silverstone this weekend. The place where it all started. Silverstone is one of the most historic tracks on the Formula 1 Calendar.

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The 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix roars into Silverstone this weekend, bringing with it a fierce championship battle, homegrown heroes, and the electric atmosphere only this iconic circuit can deliver. As Round 12 of a tightly contested season, all eyes are on McLarenā€™s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, currently locked in a close title fight as they look to extend their dominance on home soil. Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton returns to his home Grand Prix in Ferrari red, adding another layer of drama for British fans. With sell-out crowds, unpredictable weather, and the historic weight of Silverstone, this year’s race promises to be one of the most thrilling yet.

About The Track

Formula One's Constant: The British GP

(credit – f1.com)

Silverstone Circuit is renowned as one of Formula 1ā€™s most iconic and challenging tracks, blending high-speed straights with a technical mix of sweeping corners. Measuring 5.891 kilometers, the former RAF airfield is a true test of car balance and driver bravery, especially through legendary sections like Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel, where rapid directional changes demand razor-sharp precision. The trackā€™s fast-flowing nature rewards aerodynamic efficiency and cornering stability, making it a favourite among drivers. With unpredictable British weather often playing a role, and overtaking opportunities at corners like Stowe and Vale, Silverstone delivers both strategic complexity and spectacular racing action year after year.

Pirelli’s Specifications



Stories This Weekend

Special Liveries


McLaren dropped a gorgeous livery for their home race in Silverstone. A lot of chrome on the car to keep them standing out on track. This is a throwback to their iconic Vodafone Chrome livery in the late 200s



VCARB also brought out a fancy spray paint livery after a good result for them in Austria.


Hamilton At Home In Red

Lewis Hamilton makes his first appearance at home for the Scarlet Outfit. He has a record of a 14-year-long streak of top 3 finishes at his home race. He will be looking to keep that going coming into this weekend.


Rumours Of Verstappen x Mercedes

Sky Sports Italy put out a post on X saying that talks are in advanced stages between Max and Mercedes, George Russel and Max’s future remains uncertain at this stage. George expressed his will to stay at Mercedes for the foreseeable future.


F1 Movie Release

The long awaited F1 Movie produced by Lewis Hamilton starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris makes its first appearance in the big screens. With a lot of positive reviews, the movie is a recommended watch.

Weekend Schedule



Weekend Forecast

Friday: 22Ā°C, Wind 29 km/h, 10% chance of rain
Saturday: 21Ā°C, Wind 24 km/h, 45% chance of rain
Sunday: 21Ā°C, Wind 24 km/h, 10% chance of rain.

It’s windier than usual, making cars unpredictable. Droplets of rain are expected during Qualifying

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Austrian GP Review: Lando Withers The Storm, Piastri Falls Short, Sauber Double Points

A scintillating Austrian GP brought out the best of our Championship Leaders. From Lando and Piastri’s tussle on track, Antonelli misjudges his braking zone and takes out Verstappen, Lawson P6, and Sauber, getting both cars in the points! The race in Spielberg had a lot to offer.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

July 5, 2025

By

Austrian GP Review: Lando Withers The Storm, Piastri Falls Short, Sauber Double Points
Image Credit - McLaren


A scintillating Austrian GP brought out the best of our Championship Leaders. From Lando and Piastri’s tussle on track, Antonelli misjudges his braking zone and takes out Verstappen, Lawson P6, and Sauber, getting both cars in the points! The race in Spielberg had a lot to offer.

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McLaren Top The Charts

Austrian GP: Lando Norris
SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JUNE 29: Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates on the podium with Champagne during the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

Lando Norris scored a near-perfect weekend, topping every session he participated in. Formula 2 rookie Alexander Dunne got a taste of Formula 1 in FP1, setting a lap just two-tenths away from the top time that session.

Lando topped the sheets in Qualifying, landing him a clear road ahead for the start of the Austrian GP. Lando got away well at the beginning, maintaining his lead. A 21-lap-long attack from his teammate Piastri for the lead of the race was long and intense. It brought out the best that the Leaders had to offer, with no room for error; maintaining the lead was crucial for a strategic advantage.

Lando was holding off his teammate, giving him priority in the pit stops. Piastri employed an overcut strategy and attempted an attack on Lando in the dying stages of the Austrian GP. However, passing backmarkers who were in a battle of their own wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

At the line, the McLarens crossed the line P1 and P2, scoring maximum points for the team and making the WDC Battle a whole lot more interesting.


Ferrari Scores Valuable Points

The team in P2 of the Constructors scored big points on Sunday, with Charles Leclerc scoring P3 and Lewis Hamilton falling short of the podium in P4. However, it was not sunny days for the Scarlet Outfit. Once again, another miscommunication and strategy blunder by the Ferrari team ruled out any opportunity for Lewis to move up the field. With 20 laps to go in the race, Lewis Hamilton was on the Hard compound tires and wanted to run to the end on that set, possibly. Ferrari ignored that call and brought Lewis into the pits anyway.

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Two Sides Of The Coin for Mercedes

Rookie Kimi Antonelli got into trouble early on in the Austrian GP, misjudging the braking point in T3 and running into the back of Max Verstappen and ending both their races prematurely on Lap 1.

George Russell was our race winner last race weekend in Canada; however, this time, the package wasn’t present. He was 60s off the leading pair, finishing P5.

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Sauber Scores Double Points

For the first time in a while, Sauber dragged both their cars into the points, with Gabriel Bortoleto in P8 and Nico Hulkenberg in P9. The upgrade package seems to be working for Sauber.

Sauber has outscored Red Bull over the last 3 races. Sauber has scored 20 points, whereas Red Bull has scored 19.

Williams Faces Issues

Williams has not had the most incredible run of races in the most recent rounds. This round, however, was much worseā€”a double DNF for the prestigious British outfit. Carlos Sainz was on the back foot all weekend long. A stalled car on the formation lap was the cherry on top. Even though he was able to get the car running, an early retirement led to disappointment.
His teammate had no better luck, facing a DNF as well.


Other Notable Performances

Liam Lawson scores his best result of the season, earning a well-deserved P6 for the VCARB driver, which secures him some much-needed points.

Fernando Alonso crossed the line in P7, making it points scored in 4 consecutive races for the Spaniard. It was a massive comeback after what was considered his career-worst start to the season.

Esteban Ocon landed Haas a single point; a very well-run, under-the-radar race brings home a valuable point.

Austrian GP Results

Standings

Next Race In Silverstone

Its Lewis Hamilton’s first home race in red! He’ll be looking to continue his 11 year long record of finishing in the top 3 in Silverstone.
The WDC gap closes and gets tense.
Mercedes and Verstappen look for redemption.
Williams look for solid ground.

Desi Racing Co.Ā is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether itā€™s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, weā€™ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us onĀ Twitter/X,Ā Instagram, andĀ LinkedInĀ to keep up with the latest motorsport newsĀ andĀ updates.

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