Grading the Grid: 2025 Japanese Grand Prix F1 Driver Ratings

The legendary Suzuka Circuit, a true test of a driver’s mettle, once again challenged the Formula 1 grid to deliver their absolute best. However, the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix highlighted a persistent issue within the sport: the current generation of Formula 1 cars and their intricate tire management requirements are proving increasingly ill-suited to circuits that demand relentless attack and high-speed commitment. What should have been a spectacle of daring overtakes and strategic masterclasses often devolved into a processional affair, with drivers largely constrained by the fear of their tires overheating and losing precious performance.

This dynamic undeniably shaped the outcome of the race and, consequently, heavily influenced the driver ratings for the weekend. While the Grand Prix itself may have lacked wheel-to-wheel drama on race day, the qualifying session provided several exceptional performances, proving to be a critical factor in determining success and setting the stage for the Sunday result. Drivers who maximized their Saturday efforts found themselves in a far stronger position to manage the race’s unique demands.

In this detailed review, we delve into each driver’s performance, scrutinizing their qualifying laps, race strategies, and on-track incidents to provide a comprehensive rating for their Suzuka weekend. We consider not just their finishing position but the context of their machinery, their direct competitors, and the tactical choices made under immense pressure.

2025 Japanese Grand Prix: Driver Ratings & Analysis

Lando Norris

Lando Norris demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the Suzuka weekend. After an initial indifferent run in Q3, he rebounded with a blistering lap that almost snatched pole position from Max Verstappen, showcasing his exceptional raw pace and ability to extract every ounce of performance from the McLaren. In the race, Norris drove a mature and strategic race, carefully managing his tires when necessary while applying pressure on Verstappen at crucial junctures. His innovative, albeit unsuccessful, attempt to pass Verstappen on the grass at the pit lane exit highlighted his aggressive mindset and relentless pursuit of victory. Despite his best efforts, the McLaren never quite had the straight-line speed to get within DRS range of his rival, ultimately resigning him to a strong second place.

Overall Rating: 6/10. A strong weekend overall, underpinned by a brilliant qualifying recovery and a strategically sound race drive. The bold pit lane pass attempt, while ultimately failing, underlined his ambition.

Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri displayed immense potential and outright speed at Suzuka, taking provisional pole position in Q3 with a stunning lap. However, a small but costly error on his final qualifying lap prevented him from securing a front-row start, ultimately placing him third. This single mistake proved incredibly impactful, as the race’s processional nature meant track position was paramount. In the race, Piastri appeared to have strong underlying pace, perhaps even stronger than his teammate Norris at points. Yet, due to Norris actively backing off to save his tires and the difficulty of overtaking, Piastri wasn’t able to fully unleash his car’s potential or challenge for a higher position. He maintained a solid third, securing valuable points for McLaren.

Overall Rating: 5/10. A weekend of ‘what if’ for Piastri. Just one qualifying error separated him from potentially being in contention for back-to-back victories. The raw speed is undeniable, but consistency in crucial moments remains key.

Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc delivered a stellar performance that maximized the potential of his Ferrari, particularly in qualifying. His excellent lap secured him fourth on the grid, significantly ahead of his teammate, leaving the impression that there was little more to extract from the car. In the race, Leclerc displayed impressive defensive driving and tire management, proving quick enough to comfortably keep both Mercedes drivers behind him throughout. This was a testament to both his pace and strategic acumen, consolidating a strong fourth-place finish that was arguably the best possible result for Ferrari at Suzuka. His ability to maintain position and pace under pressure underscored his class.

Overall Rating: 8/10. An outstanding weekend where Leclerc extracted maximum performance from the Ferrari. Beating both Mercedes cars, particularly given their perceived pace, was a significant achievement.

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton’s Suzuka weekend felt somewhat reminiscent of previous seasons, where qualifying performance dictated his race outcome. He candidly admitted to still struggling to get the optimal performance from his tires during qualifying, which left him P8 on the grid, four places behind his teammate. Despite starting on the harder compound tire, Hamilton managed to hold his position at the start, demonstrating his race craft. He then capitalized on an early opportunity to pass Hadjar for seventh, a well-executed move. Hamilton later revealed that the team had identified an underperforming part on his car, offering hope for improved results in upcoming races once a fix is implemented. While the race showed glimpses of his strong pace, the qualifying deficit proved too much to overcome for a truly impactful result.

Overall Rating: 5/10. A solid race drive that was ultimately limited by a sub-optimal qualifying performance. The ongoing struggle with tire optimization on Saturdays continues to be a defining factor for Hamilton’s results.

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass performance at Suzuka, once again proving why he is the reigning champion. His qualifying lap was nothing short of brilliant, flawless and error-free, ensuring pole position was firmly in his grasp where only such a perfect lap would suffice. In the race, Verstappen demonstrated exceptional control and strategic awareness, leveraging the Red Bull’s superior traction out of Suzuka’s slower corners to effectively keep Lando Norris at bay throughout the entire Grand Prix. Even a minor front wing flap adjustment error during his final pit stop failed to disrupt his composure or pace, as he remained untroubled and maintained his lead. He managed to withstand 53 laps of constant, albeit largely indirect, pressure, never truly allowing his defenses to be tested by an attacking rival. This was a dominant display from start to finish.

Overall Rating: 9/10. A mega performance in qualifying followed by a perfectly controlled race. His ability to manage tires and capitalize on the Red Bull’s strong slow-corner traction ensured a comfortable victory, showcasing his unmatched skill.

Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda started his home Grand Prix weekend with a promising showing in first practice, hinting at strong local knowledge. He successfully reached Q2, though his fastest time was set in Q1, and he ultimately finished last in the second qualifying session. In the race, Tsunoda showed good aggression, pressuring his teammate Liam Lawson into a first-lap mistake and subsequently passing him, which undoubtedly saved some blushes in front of his home crowd. Beyond this initial move, progress was limited. He gained only one other position during the race, largely due to Pierre Gasly’s slow pit stop. A moment where he ran off at the chicane during the race suggested he was pushing the limits, but ultimately, the overall result wasn’t what he or the fans might have hoped for.

Overall Rating: 4/10. A mixed weekend for Tsunoda. While passing Lawson on the first lap was a highlight, his qualifying performance and limited race progress mean there’s still work to do.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered a commendable performance at Suzuka, especially considering his self-admitted lack of confidence prior to qualifying. Securing a spot on the third row, just behind his more experienced teammate George Russell, was a significant achievement. While he had a minor excursion off-track at the chicane on lap two, he quickly recovered and showcased impressive tire management skills, keeping his original set of medium tires in excellent condition throughout a long first stint. He finished the race almost within DRS range of his teammate, a strong indicator of his consistent pace and potential. This weekend marked a well-timed step forward in his Formula 1 journey, demonstrating his rapid adaptation to the pinnacle of motorsport.

Overall Rating: 7/10. A very respectable showing. Antonelli made a crucial step forward in qualifying and demonstrated strong race pace and tire management, proving his worth alongside an established teammate.

George Russell

George Russell displayed strong pace throughout the practice sessions, suggesting a promising weekend for Mercedes. However, a critical error in Q3, attributed to targeting the wrong tire temperatures, proved costly and prevented him from translating that practice form into a higher grid position. Starting fifth meant he faced an uphill battle in the race. Like many others, he experienced an excursion off-track at the chicane. Russell attempted an early pit stop strategy in an effort to undercut Charles Leclerc, but he rejoined the track in traffic, which nullified any potential advantage. Despite his strong underlying pace, he, like several other drivers, found it nearly impossible to make significant progress through the field in the processional conditions, ultimately finishing in his starting position.

Overall Rating: 7/10. Russell paid a high price for a critical qualifying error. While his pace was evident, the inability to convert it into track position in Q3 hampered his entire race, despite an attempt at an aggressive strategy.

Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll endured a profoundly challenging weekend at Suzuka. His qualifying session was marred by an off-track moment in Q1, which he attributed to “a strong gust of wind,” leaving him dead last on the grid. This set the tone for a difficult race. He was the first driver to pit, discarding his soft tires for hards in an early strategic gamble. Uniquely, Stroll was the only driver to make two pit stops during the Grand Prix, a decision that ultimately left him a lap down on the leaders at the finish. Compounding his struggles, he was consistently slower than his teammate Fernando Alonso throughout his final stint, despite being on softer and fresher tires. This performance meant he simply never factored into the main action of the race, delivering a forgettable outing for Aston Martin.

Overall Rating: 3/10. A weekend to forget for Stroll. From a disappointing qualifying to a race where he never found pace or made an impact, he simply never figured in the competitive mix.

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso demonstrated his characteristic resilience and race craft at Suzuka. Despite sliding into the gravel trap at Degner One during second practice, a minor incident that didn’t significantly derail his weekend preparations, he put in a strong qualifying performance. The car didn’t appear capable of much more than 13th, yet Alonso extracted every bit of pace to secure that position, a significant margin ahead of his teammate. In the race, he made a crucial move at the start, getting past Pierre Gasly. Alonso then displayed impressive defensive driving, withstanding consistent pressure from both Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda to hold onto his position and claim 11th, just outside the points. This was his first race finish of the season, a testament to his persistent effort and ability to capitalize on every opportunity.

Overall Rating: 7/10. A typical Alonso performance, maximizing the car’s potential and delivering a strong result. A minor practice incident didn’t deter him from a clean and effective race, securing a solid finish just shy of the points.

Jack Doohan

Jack Doohan’s Suzuka weekend was compromised from the outset, as he sat out first practice to allow Ryo Hirakawa to drive. This lack of track time likely contributed to a heavy crash in second practice, where he failed to close his DRS, impacting his confidence and car setup. In qualifying, a slight mistake at Spoon curve on his final Q1 lap ensured he started from 19th. Despite these setbacks, Doohan showed commendable recovery in the race. He started on soft tires but, unlike Lance Stroll, managed to complete the race with only one pit stop. He significantly improved his position, finishing four places higher than where he started, showcasing decent race pace and management once settled.

Overall Rating: 4/10. A tough weekend for Doohan, severely impacted by lost practice time and a significant crash. While his race recovery was decent, the team’s decision to bench him for a session at such a challenging track proved detrimental to his overall performance.

Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly demonstrated stronger qualifying pace, securing 11th on the grid, a significant eight places ahead of his teammate. However, his race didn’t go as smoothly. He lost a position to Fernando Alonso at the start, an early setback. Crucially, a slow pit stop cost him at least two vital seconds, further hindering his progress and pushing him down the order. Later in the race, he was asked by the team to let Jack Doohan past, indicating that his pace was not where it needed to be. While points already looked unlikely given the competitive midfield and the race’s nature, the slow pit stop effectively sealed his fate for a lower finish. Gasly showed good pace potential, but operational inefficiencies and race incidents meant he couldn’t convert it into a strong result.

Overall Rating: 6/10. Gasly delivered a solid qualifying performance, but a lost position at the start and a particularly slow pit stop spoiled his chances for a better race result, making points an even more distant prospect.

Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon’s Suzuka weekend was largely defined by his qualifying performance, where he dropped out in Q1 while his teammate progressed. This immediately put him on the back foot for the race. Starting from 18th, he opted for a hard tire strategy, banking on a Safety Car period to bring him back into contention. Unfortunately for Ocon, no Safety Car materialized, meaning his strategy did not pay off as hoped. While he gained one position at the start, he ultimately finished where he started, highlighting how difficult it is for midfield teams to make progress from deep in the grid without external factors. His race was a clear demonstration of the high price midfielders pay if they fall short in qualifying at a circuit like Suzuka.

Overall Rating: 5/10. A difficult weekend for Ocon, where a Q1 exit severely limited his strategic options and potential race outcome. The gamble on a Safety Car didn’t pay off, leaving him with little opportunity to advance.

Oliver Bearman

Oliver Bearman delivered a standout qualifying performance at Suzuka, showcasing immense potential. It was an impressive feat just to get into Q2, but his progression into Q3 was a genuine surprise and a testament to his raw speed. Despite a messy final sector in Q3 that left him 10th when a better position might have been possible (his Q2 time was 0.156s faster), he still secured a crucial top-ten start. In the race, Bearman drove a clean and controlled Grand Prix, holding his starting position and collecting the final point. This opportunistic approach in qualifying, coupled with a solid and consistent race performance, marked a highly encouraging weekend for the young driver.

Overall Rating: 7/10. An excellent and opportunistic qualifying performance paved the way for a solid race. Bearman capitalized on his strong starting position to secure a valuable point, demonstrating both pace and composure.

Isack Hadjar

Isack Hadjar produced a remarkable performance to secure an excellent seventh place on the grid, overcoming significant personal discomfort to deliver such a strong qualifying result. This put him in a fantastic position for the race. While a minor error at Spoon corner allowed Lewis Hamilton to pass him, Hadjar displayed great resilience thereafter. He remained untroubled by Alexander Albon behind him and navigated an “exhausting” race to secure the first points of his Formula 1 career. This was a thoroughly deserved points finish, showcasing his talent and determination under challenging physical conditions. His ability to convert a strong qualifying into a tangible race result was a highlight of the midfield battle.

Overall Rating: 7/10. A fully deserved first points finish in Formula 1. Hadjar’s exceptional qualifying, especially while battling discomfort, and his solid race management to convert it into points, were highly commendable.

Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson faced a difficult weekend at Suzuka, particularly in qualifying. He admitted to “hitting a wall” metaphorically, unable to match his teammate Hadjar’s impressive pace and ultimately qualifying seven places behind him. His race got off to a poor start, as a mistake at Spoon corner on the very first lap allowed his teammate Yuki Tsunoda to pass him. This early setback, combined with the difficulty of overtaking at Suzuka, meant Lawson struggled to recover throughout the Grand Prix. Finishing significantly behind his teammate and outside the points was a disappointing outcome, especially following the recent brutal news of his Red Bull ousting. He needed a stronger showing to reaffirm his capabilities, but Suzuka proved challenging.

Overall Rating: 4/10. A challenging weekend for Lawson, struggling to find pace in qualifying and making a crucial mistake on the first lap of the race. He needed a better performance, particularly given recent team developments.

Alexander Albon

Alexander Albon continued his impressive run of form, capitalizing on another strong qualifying performance to secure ninth place on the grid, three places ahead of his teammate. He expressed delight with his car’s balance in qualifying, which allowed him to reach Q3. However, his enthusiasm for the car’s handling diminished in the race, and he openly queried the team’s strategy. Despite these concerns, Albon held his starting position and battled consistently to maintain his top-ten finish, bringing home valuable points for his team. His ability to extract the maximum from the car in qualifying, even if the race pace was less satisfying, remains a significant asset.

Overall Rating: 7/10. Albon once again took full advantage of a decent run in qualifying, securing a valuable Q3 spot and converting it into points. His ability to perform on Saturday remains a key strength.

Carlos Sainz Jnr

Carlos Sainz Jnr’s weekend was a mixed bag, showing signs of progress alongside a couple of costly errors. He collected an unnecessary penalty for impeding Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, which dropped him down the grid. While he admitted he could have reached Q3, this blunder highlighted a lack of precision. In the race, he lost a place to Nico Hulkenberg at the start but swiftly reclaimed it at the hairpin on the next lap. He also had an off-track moment at the chicane and let his teammate Albon past when instructed by the team. Despite these issues, Sainz displayed strong recovery pace after his pit stop, pulling off a vital pass on Liam Lawson, then expertly picking off Nico Hulkenberg and Jack Doohan. This demonstrated that, qualifying blunders aside, he is clearly making progress with the car’s setup and his race craft.

Overall Rating: 5/10. A weekend of two halves for Sainz. A qualifying blunder proved costly, but his subsequent strong race pace and decisive overtakes showed clear signs of progress and improvement.

Nico Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg’s Suzuka weekend saw him just miss out on Q2, a small error at Turn 9 likely costing him that crucial progression. Starting 16th, he gained a place at the start from Carlos Sainz but subsequently lost it back on the next lap. For much of the second half of the race, Hulkenberg found himself stuck behind Jack Doohan, unable to make significant progress. He candidly described his race as “boring,” a sentiment reflecting the lack of overtaking opportunities and the limitations of his car in the midfield battle. Despite a relatively clean race, the grid position and the track’s nature meant few chances arose for him to climb higher.

Overall Rating: 6/10. A consistent but ultimately uneventful race for Hulkenberg. A small qualifying error proved impactful, and the nature of the Suzuka Grand Prix offered him few opportunities to make gains from his grid position.

Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto, on his first visit to the challenging Suzuka Circuit, delivered a respectable performance, especially given his relative inexperience. He was closely matched with his more experienced teammate, a positive sign of his potential. However, his race start was difficult, losing three places, though it must be noted that two of those were to drivers on softer tire compounds. He ultimately finished 19th, in a queue of cars that included his teammate, indicating that the car’s performance was largely maximized. For a rookie navigating such a demanding track, being so close to his teammate is an encouraging start, despite the lack of points.

Overall Rating: 5/10. A respectable showing for Bortoleto on his Suzuka debut. Being closely matched with his experienced teammate is a positive, even if a tough start limited his ultimate race position.

Over to you

Now that you’ve read our comprehensive breakdown of each driver’s performance at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, we want to hear your thoughts! Who impressed you most with their skill, strategy, or sheer determination? Cast your vote for the driver who stood out to you last weekend and join the debate with fellow RaceFans. Your opinion matters, and it’s a great way to see if your views align with the wider F1 community. Don’t miss the chance to make your voice heard!

• Vote for your 2025 Japanese Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend

2025 Japanese Grand Prix

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• 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

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