Which Formula 1 driver made the most of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend?
It’s time to give your verdict on which driver did the best with the equipment at their disposal over the last three days.
Review how each driver got on below and vote for who impressed you the most at Suzuka.
Driver performance summary
| Driver | Q stage | Q pos. | Q gap to team mate | GP grid pos. | GP pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lando Norris | Q3 | 2 | -0.032s | 2 | 2 |
| Oscar Piastri | Q3 | 3 | +0.032s | 3 | 3 |
| Charles Leclerc | Q3 | 4 | -0.311s | 4 | 4 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Q3 | 8 | +0.311s | 8 | 7 |
| Max Verstappen | Q3 | 1 | -0.498s | 1 | 1 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Q2 | 15 | +0.498s | 14 | 12 |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Q3 | 6 | +0.237s | 6 | 6 |
| George Russell | Q3 | 5 | -0.237s | 5 | 5 |
| Lance Stroll | Q1 | 20 | +0.934s | 20 | 20 |
| Fernando Alonso | Q2 | 13 | -0.934s | 12 | 11 |
| Jack Doohan | Q1 | 19 | +0.691s | 19 | 15 |
| Pierre Gasly | Q2 | 11 | -0.691s | 11 | 13 |
| Esteban Ocon | Q1 | 18 | +0.468s | 18 | 18 |
| Oliver Bearman | Q3 | 10 | -0.468s | 10 | 10 |
| Isack Hadjar | Q3 | 7 | -0.131s | 7 | 8 |
| Liam Lawson | Q2 | 14 | +0.131s | 13 | 17 |
| Alexander Albon | Q3 | 9 | -0.053s | 9 | 9 |
| Carlos Sainz Jnr | Q2 | 12 | +0.053s | 15 | 14 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Q1 | 16 | -0.052s | 16 | 16 |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | Q1 | 17 | +0.052s | 17 | 19 |
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Vote for your driver of the weekend
Which driver do you think did the best job throughout the race weekend?
Who got the most out of their car in qualifying and the race? Who put their team mate in the shade?
Cast your vote below and explain why you chose the driver you picked in the comments.
Who was the best driver of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix weekend?
- No opinion (1%)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (1%)
- Nico Hulkenberg (0%)
- Carlos Sainz Jnr (0%)
- Alexander Albon (2%)
- Yuki Tsunoda (2%)
- Isack Hadjar (10%)
- Oliver Bearman (4%)
- Esteban Ocon (0%)
- Pierre Gasly (0%)
- Jack Doohan (0%)
- Fernando Alonso (1%)
- Lance Stroll (0%)
- George Russell (0%)
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (7%)
- Liam Lawson (0%)
- Max Verstappen (66%)
- Lewis Hamilton (2%)
- Charles Leclerc (2%)
- Oscar Piastri (1%)
- Lando Norris (1%)
Total Voters: 125
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2025 Japanese Grand Prix
- McLaren has to accept upsetting either of its drivers sometimes – Stella
- Verstappen ‘can test our car, I look forward to seeing his disappointment’ – Norris
- Verstappen insists McLaren domination claim was ‘no joke’ after Piastri’s doubt
- Extra mandatory pit stop won’t create more passing at tracks like Suzuka – Sainz
- Mercedes took note of Verstappen’s out-lap tactics after stunning Suzuka pole position
Debates and polls
- Poll: Are Briatore or Symonds welcome in F1 so long after Crashgate?
- Doohan out, Colapinto in: Have Alpine made the right call?
- Which penalty calls did the stewards get right – or wrong – over the first five rounds?
- Should Mercedes re-sign Russell for 2026 – even if it leaves no room for Verstappen?
- Vote for your 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend
Jere (@jerejj)
6th April 2025, 7:47
DOTW: Definitely VER, but I agree with ANT receiving the DOTD honor.
Imre (@f1mre)
6th April 2025, 7:55
He was beaten by his teammate in straight fight. How could that be a DOTD performance?
His performances are good in general but Verstappen, Hadjar, Albon had much better races today.
BasCB (@bascb)
6th April 2025, 8:12
I wonder about that too. The thing that got him forward in the race was the strategy. That is on the team, not on the driver. And Kimi, just like Russel were amongst those who missed that last chicane the most times. I do think Hadjar deserves a shout out, as did Bearman.
elchinero (@elchinero)
6th April 2025, 17:19
We ALWAYS vote for Lewis ….
72defender (@72defender)
6th April 2025, 7:51
Max then Kimi…simple as that!
Leo B
6th April 2025, 9:32
Esp Kimi in 2005!
GeeMac (@geemac)
7th April 2025, 5:35
I like and rate Antonelli, but did we watch a different race weekend? He got beaten by his teammate in quali and the race, so he cannot be DOTW. Yes Russell is a strong teammate, but for someone who is being touted like the second coming of Nuvolari he’s just been doing a solid, unspectacular job so far.
The best drivers this weekend were Verstappen, Hadjar, Albon and Bearman. I gave my vote to Hadjar given the pressure the Red Bull machine is no doubt putting him under and the focus that has been on his two teammates over the last two weeks. He turned up, drove quickly and bagged a result. Top job.
BasCB (@bascb)
6th April 2025, 8:00
Today all drivers did a solid job, Max did it perfectly after driving that amazing lap yesterday. Great driver, amazing track, but one to really race on. Clearly Max did the best job.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
6th April 2025, 12:16
Stroll was over 40 seconds behind Alonso. Tsunoda was nearly an entire minute behind Verstappen. I don’t think all were solid. Just solid enough not to crash out or have any incidents.
Venedikov (@venedikov)
6th April 2025, 8:08
Definitely Max – he was fastest when it mattered and then fast enough to do the job. Mclaren have only themselves to blame for losing.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
6th April 2025, 8:10
Max of course. Shoutouts to Hadjar, Albon and Bearman for being comfortably faster than their teammates all weekend. I’d shout out Alonso too, but Stroll was uniquely bad this weekend and the strategy did not help matters.
Antonelli did a good job too, to nearly get DRS on his teammate.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
6th April 2025, 8:11
These Japanese stans and bots voting Tsunoda both here and on the F1 website need to have their voting privileges revoked.
72defender (@72defender)
6th April 2025, 8:20
Preach!
Doggy
6th April 2025, 8:11
Obviously Max.
But what a season Albon is having.
72defender (@72defender)
6th April 2025, 8:19
Lance Stroll for me…
You have to be exceptionally bad to be 0.952 behind your teammate in qualifying, and then finishing well off the pace of the Saubers!
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
6th April 2025, 8:30
Just flip the results sheet and he is first.
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
6th April 2025, 8:24
Rapid lap on Saturday Q3 followed by an error free Sunday. Voted for Max as the driver of the weekend. What’s worrying though is seeing how much Mclaren are holding Piastri back.The guy was clearly quicker than Norris this Sunday and could have got within DRS of Max in a circuit where understandably it’s difficult to overtake. Also, with two cars Mclaren should have also considered tyre offset with at least one of the cars. This way Mclaren is banking points definitely, but that is not a winner’s mindset. Surprisingly good performance from Hadjar and Bearman, both well ahead of their teammates.
MichaelN
6th April 2025, 9:01
Leclerc, Albon and Bearman did particularly well. Hadjar also had a nice result, but that car is very good so it’s not a huge surprise. Still a great result for him after his awkward first race.
Of course Verstappen had a great run yesterday. Today seemed relatively easy, especially against the timid McLaren team. So not really all that noteworthy for him, judging by his standards.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
6th April 2025, 9:10
Well done Lance! No wait, Max was even better than him. A mighty lap and his familiar control of the important moments on race day.
If the Mercedes shuffles into contention right at the front, then Antonelli’s ready for it, just as Piastri was.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
6th April 2025, 9:18
After that qualifying performance, this was the easiest choice ever.
Leo B
6th April 2025, 9:35
No one but Max.
At all stages he peaked at just the right moment.
(He was helped a little bit by McLaren ordering Piastri to stay behind his team mate in the latter part of the race).
Deerhunter
6th April 2025, 9:37
Ollie completely flew under the radar even though he’s been exceptional throughout the weekend. Brilliant lap in Q2, and held ground on Sunday to claim a point even when the Haas didn’t look that particularly comfortable.
Ocon’s no slouch, but to put one over your experienced teammate in a driver’s track like Suzuka is something else.
Easily the most impressive driver this week.
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
6th April 2025, 9:55
It’s lonely at the top for Max. He is not just driver of the day. He is the driver of the last decade.
David BR (@david-br)
6th April 2025, 17:48
Verstappen or Hadjar. Voted Hadjar knowing MV will win the vote anyhow.
GmP (@gmp)
7th April 2025, 5:43
Max and then Ant / Had / Bea. The last two are rookies getting into positions that are better than the car, Ant put the Mercedes where it belonged. They all three ended up in car-strength order.
Alb was good to, but that should be expected now from him, he is a veteran in a good car.
Yuki finding out that getting the RB from 99% to 100% (or as Max can, 101%) is the difficulty. He came closer then Law, and maybe also Per last year, it if he really can get there has to be seen.