The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix was full of surprises and struggles. Here’s a look at how five top teams fared at Suzuka.
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka offered a blend of challenges and triumphs for different teams, with some finding solace in consistent results, while others struggled with performance issues. Here’s a summary of how five notable teams fared over the weekend.
Mercedes F1: Russell’s Steady Drive and Antonelli’s Breakthrough Performance
Mercedes had a solid but uneventful race, with George Russell finishing 5th and teammate Andrea Antonelli crossing the line in 6th. Despite both drivers maintaining their positions from the start, Russell was vocal about the lack of variety in strategy, calling for softer tyres in future races due to the durability of the harder compound, which failed to provide much excitement on track. “The race was all about tyre management; we couldn’t really push for overtakes,” Russell said, commenting on the difficulty of gaining positions on the narrow Suzuka circuit.
Antonelli, on the other hand, enjoyed a breakthrough moment, setting a new record as the youngest leader of a Grand Prix in F1 history, and finishing just under a second behind Russell. The 19-year-old showed impressive pace, even though he struggled with physical fatigue toward the end of the race. “I pushed hard, especially in the first sector, but it was physically demanding. I’m happy with the progress I made,” Antonelli reflected.
Williams F1: Albon Keeps the Points Coming, Sainz Faces a Tough Day
Alex Albon continued his solid run of form, securing another point-scoring finish in 8th. Despite some early complaints about shifting issues, Albon was content with the result, especially since the car wasn’t performing at its best. “Even on a tough weekend, we were still able to fight for the top 10. I’m happy to keep up the momentum,” Albon said after the race.
Carlos Sainz, however, had a less positive outing. Starting 15th, he finished 14th, frustrated by his starting position, which he felt cost him a chance to break into the points. “I had good pace, but Suzuka is like Monaco—there’s no real way to make up places unless you’re in the front,” Sainz admitted. The Spaniard also drew attention for an off-track issue: he was fined €20,000 by the FIA for missing the national anthem, despite being unwell.
Aston Martin F1: Alonso Struggles for Pace, Stroll’s Unfortunate Strategy
Fernando Alonso’s weekend was marred by a lack of pace, finishing 11th after a race where overtaking was near impossible. The double world champion was disappointed with the team’s performance but remained optimistic for the upcoming races. “We need to improve the car’s performance, especially for tracks like Suzuka where overtaking is tough,” Alonso remarked.
Lance Stroll, on the other hand, endured a frustrating race, finishing last after trying a two-stop strategy, which failed to deliver any significant advantage. “It wasn’t our day, but we’ll use this race to learn and improve for the future,” Stroll said. Both drivers are hopeful that upcoming upgrades will improve their performance at future races.
Alpine F1: Another Missed Opportunity for Points
Pierre Gasly had high hopes for scoring his first points of the season in Japan, especially after a strong qualifying performance. However, the Frenchman was unable to keep up with the pace of the top 10, ultimately finishing 13th. “We gave our best effort, but the car just didn’t have the rhythm needed to fight for points,” Gasly said after the race.
Teammate Jack Doohan showed some progress, improving from 19th to 15th, but even he admitted the weekend wasn’t ideal for Alpine. “It was a tough race, but we learned a lot. The conditions in Bahrain will be different, and hopefully, we can make a stronger push,” Doohan reflected.
Sauber F1: Stuck in the Back of the Field
Sauber’s weekend was challenging, with Nico Hülkenberg finishing 16th and Gabriel Bortoleto in 19th. Despite their poor finishing positions, both drivers showed determination on the track. Bortoleto, who started on hard tyres, admitted that Suzuka’s narrow nature made overtaking difficult, but he took away valuable learning experiences. “I didn’t get the best start, but it was a good weekend for learning,” Bortoleto said.
Hülkenberg echoed his teammate’s sentiments, noting that the team’s lack of pace was evident as they spent most of the race stuck in traffic. “It was frustrating, but we know what we need to improve for the upcoming races,” Hülkenberg said.
The Japanese Grand Prix was a mixed bag for many teams. Mercedes showed consistency with Russell and Antonelli, but strategic calls failed to spark excitement. Williams continues to impress with Albon’s steady point finishes, while Sainz and Ferrari’s weekend ended in frustration. Aston Martin’s Alonso and Stroll couldn’t find the pace needed, and Alpine’s hopes for points were dashed once again. Sauber, struggling in the lower ranks, gained some lessons but has plenty of work to do moving forward.
As the season progresses, teams will be hoping to build on what they’ve learned in Suzuka, with Bahrain next on the calendar offering a fresh challenge.
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