2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights

George Russell finished fifth, and Kimi Antonelli sixth at the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. In a race with limited overtaking opportunities, both drivers came home in the positions they had started the 53-lap race.

Both drivers ran a one-stop race, starting on the Medium compound before switching to the Hard tyre for their second and final stint.
In the early stages, George put Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari under pressure, but at a circuit notoriously challenging to pass, he was unable to find a way past.

Running in Leclerc’s dirty air likely hurt George’s tyres, so the team opted to attempt the undercut on lap 19. Whilst it was close on pit exit as Leclerc stopped two laps later, he ultimately came out behind the Monegasque driver and held P5 to the flag. That is George’s seventh consecutive top-five finish and his best result at Suzuka.

Kimi, meanwhile, extended his first stint with impressive pace to become the youngest driver to lead an F1 race. He then protected against Lewis Hamilton’s undercut from the Ferrari and pulled away to end the battle between Leclerc and George. He set a blistering 1:30.965 to become the youngest driver to claim a Grand Prix fastest lap.

The team will return to Bahrain next week for the second race of this triple-header.

George Russell, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

🎌 Today’s race was a tough one to swallow. All of the top six cars finished precisely where they started. Suzuka lived up to its reputation—⛔️ overtaking is nearly impossible here, and with a straightforward one-stop strategy, the outcome was locked in from qualifying.

🛠️ We pushed hard to undercut Leclerc during the first stint but just didn’t have the raw pace to make it stick—especially after battling through traffic on those critical laps. In truth, P5 was probably the ceiling today, regardless of strategy.

⚡️ The real frustration comes from Saturday. We had the pace in practice. The car was capable of a front-row start. But this was the first qualifying session of the season where we didn’t extract everything—and that hurts.

🔁 That said, it’s time to reset.

The next stop is Bahrain 🏜️ a totally different test with scorching temperatures and a brutally abrasive track surface. It will be fascinating to see how the grid performs in those conditions.

Kimi Antonelli, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Today was a really solid race from my side, and I’m happy with how it played out. 🏁 We showed great pace, especially once I found some clean air—the car came alive. 🚀 I was able to extend my stint on the Medium tyre, which felt really strong. The balance stayed positive even after switching to the Hard compound, and I could push consistently. 🔄 I was reeling in the cars ahead, but unfortunately, I just ran out of laps to make a move at the end. ⏱️”

“One of the highlights? Leading the race for a few laps. 🥇 It was a surreal moment—an incredible feeling to become the youngest driver in F1 history to do so. 📚 The next target? Leading the only lap that really counts—the final one. 🏆”

“Overall, it’s been a great weekend. 🌟 I really enjoyed the track and felt like I was getting on top of it by the end. 🛞 Each session in the W16 helps me build confidence and understanding, and I’m excited to take another step forward in Bahrain. 🌍 The goal is to keep improving and start challenging for those higher positions. ⬆️

Bradley Lord, Team Representative, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

We leave Japan with solid points in hand 🏁 but also the feeling that more was on the table this weekend. Suzuka remains one of the most technical and unforgiving tracks on the calendar, and today’s race made overtaking as tricky as ever.

⚡ George showed an impressive early pace and looked poised to challenge Leclerc’s Ferrari 🟥🟨. But in the end, he couldn’t quite make a move stick. Running in dirty air 🌫️ compromised his tyres, blunting our undercut strategy and limiting the potential of his charge. The silver lining? If we’d qualified closer to our true potential 🎯, a podium finish was absolutely within reach.

🔧 Kimi, meanwhile, continued his upward trajectory 📈. Growing in confidence throughout the weekend, he handled one of F1’s most challenging tracks like a seasoned pro. Milestones followed: he led his first laps in Formula 1 🥇 and set his maiden fastest lap ⏱️—becoming the youngest driver ever to do so. This marks his third consecutive strong performance, a testament to his development and rising momentum.

🔜 Next stop: Bahrain. A rough, abrasive circuit 🌵 under the lights that brings new challenges and new opportunities. The objective is clear: we want to be right in the mix and fight for the podium again. 🏆

1. Previous
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 4
6. 5
7. 6
8. 7
9. 8
10. 9
11. 10
12. 11
13. Next