Speed & Styled: Suzuka Style & Red Bull Revival
Kayla Habeck
Photo Credit: Formula 1 Twitter
Formula 1
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Formula 1 〰️
FP1
FP1 kicked off the weekend with McLaren looking seriously dialed in. Lando Norris topped the session with a 1:29.921, closely followed by teammate Oscar Piastri. George Russell rounded out the top three for Mercedes, while Ferrari quietly slotted into the top six. Red Bull kept things low-key, with Max Verstappen finishing P6 after focusing more on balance and long runs than outright pace.
While there weren’t any major incidents, several drivers had a few sketchy moments as they pushed through Suzuka’s trickier corners. Tire warm-up was tricky early on, with teams experimenting across compounds. Rookie Isack Hadjar impressed again, staying within range of the leaders. Nothing too wild in FP1, but McLaren’s early pace definitely set the tone.
FP2
FP2 brought more pace from McLaren—and a big moment for a rising star. Oscar Piastri led the way with a 1:28.114, just 0.049s ahead of teammate Lando Norris, keeping the papaya cars on top. But all eyes were on Isack Hadjar, who put in a seriously impressive lap to go P3 in the Racing Bulls. The rookie looked fearless around Suzuka’s flowing corners and wasn’t just doing one-lap glory runs—his pace looked legit.
The session took a dramatic turn about 15 minutes in when Jack Doohan lost the rear of his Alpine coming out of a high-speed right-hander and slammed hard into the barriers. It was a big hit that brought out the red flag immediately—his car was heavily damaged, and he looked visibly shaken but thankfully okay. The crash cut everyone’s long-run plans short and left Alpine with a major overnight repair job. Once things resumed, most teams focused on race sims. Red Bull still didn’t show much on the timing sheets— Verstappen ended up P7—but insiders said their long-run pace looked more competitive than the one-lap times suggested. McLaren, though? Fast on all fronts.
FP3
FP3 saw the McLaren momentum continue, but the field tightened up ahead of qualifying. Lando Norris once again went quickest with a 1:27.965, with Oscar Piastri just behind in P2. George Russell was back in the mix with P3, and both Ferraris were lurking just outside the top five. Verstappen improved from Friday’s pace but still didn’t look fully hooked up—he finished P5, nearly three tenths off Norris.
The session had more edge than the earlier practices, with teams pushing harder to find the last bit of balance before quali. A few lockups and wide moments popped up, especially through the final chicane, and tire wear was clearly going to be a factor over the race distance. Rookie Kimi Antonelli looked more confident, ending P10 and steadily chipping away at the gap to the frontrunners. FP3 didn’t give us a clear favorite, but it definitely built the tension heading into what promised to be a super close qualifying session.
Qualifying
Qualifying at Suzuka was tight, tense, and a total showcase of Max Verstappen’s one-lap brilliance. Just when it looked like McLaren might sweep the weekend, Max pulled out a mega lap in Q3—setting a new track record with a 1:26.983 and snatching pole by just 0.012s over Lando Norris. Oscar Piastri was right there in P3, just 0.044s off. It was one of the closest top threes we’ve seen in ages, with less than a tenth separating them.
Further back, Mercedes showed solid pace with George Russell grabbing P4, while Ferrari couldn't quite hook it up when it mattered most. Rookie sensation Isack Hadjar made it into Q3 again, qualifying P8 and continuing his breakout weekend. The pressure was on in every segment—Q1 and Q2 were packed with near-eliminations and traffic drama—but Q3 delivered a proper showdown. McLaren looked like the team to beat all weekend, but Max reminded everyone why you can never count him out.
Race
Race day in Suzuka belonged to Max Verstappen. After a nail-biter of a qualifying session, Max got the launch he needed and never looked back. He controlled the race from lights to flag—managing the tires, responding to pressure, and making zero mistakes. The McLarens of Norris and Piastri kept him honest, but they never quite had the extra punch to challenge. Norris finished just over a second behind in P2, with Piastri rounding out the podium in P3. It was Max’s fourth consecutive win at Suzuka, and a real statement after a quieter Friday.
Behind the podium, the race was packed with standout drives and midfield shuffles. Kimi Antonelli was electric—he led briefly during pit stops, bagged the fastest lap, and brought it home in P6. Isack Hadjar scored his first points in F1 with a calm, confident P8 finish, continuing his dream weekend. Ferrari couldn’t make much progress, and Mercedes quietly salvaged decent points. The strategy window was tight with higher track temps than expected, and most teams committed to two stops to keep tire wear in check.
Jack Doohan fought through the full race distance to finish P15, but it clearly took a toll. After his heavy FP2 crash, he looked physically spent climbing out of the car—visibly struggling and immediately checked by the Alpine crew. Even though the result didn’t show it, it was a gritty drive to finish at all. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda had a tough home race, crossing the line P12 after flirting with points all weekend. It wasn’t a thriller up front, but there was plenty happening down the field—and it’s clear the 2025 rookie class is bringing serious energy to the grid.
Paddock Fashion
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Paddock Fashion 〰️
Lily Zneimer brought major paddock style to Suzuka this weekend with a custom McLaren-inspired beaded top, proudly supporting her boyfriend Oscar Piastri. The intricate design, handcrafted by @byshannonashley, featured a vibrant beaded city skyline, palm trees, and a papaya F1 car—complete with “OP81” stitched across the chest, a nod to Piastri’s race number. Paired with a pink cardigan and round sunglasses, the look was playful, personal, and totally one-of-a-kind. Safe to say, it stole just as many looks as the cars on track.
Photo Credit: Getty Images & Jayce Illman
One of the most adorable and fan-favorite moments from the Japanese Grand Prix weekend came courtesy of the miniature lookalikes of Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen. Dressed in full race suits and replica helmets, the mini drivers posed with arms crossed in true F1 swagger—instantly stealing the spotlight in the fan zone. But the highlight? Mini Charles got to meet the real Charles Leclerc, who gave him a garage tour and posed for photos. It was a wholesome, full-circle moment that absolutely melted the paddock’s heart.
Photo Credit: Formula 1 Twitter
Okay yes, technically it’s a car—but Red Bull’s special livery for the Japanese Grand Prix was serving major fashion energy. In celebration of their partnership with Honda, the RB20 got a striking monochrome makeover with bold red accents, clean white panels, and a sleek design that had everyone talking. It was giving “runway meets race day,” and honestly? This kind of visual statement totally counts as motorsport fashion. The car wasn’t just fast—it was styled.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Podium
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Podium 〰️
Max Verstappen P1
Photo Credit: Red bull Racing Twitter
Lando Norris P2
Photo Credit: Formula 1 Twitter
Oscar Piastri P3
Phot Credit: McLaren Twitter
DOTD
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DOTD 〰️
Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda clinched Driver of the Day at his home Grand Prix in Japan, and the crowd absolutely loved it. He showed real composure under pressure, holding his own against quicker cars and making smart, clean moves when it counted. His race craft was on point from lights out to the checkered flag, and you could feel how much it meant to him—and the fans in the stands. It was one of those feel-good F1 moments that reminded everyone why we love this sport.
Photo Credit: Formula 1 Twitter
Kimi Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli was my personal Driver of the Day—not just for what he accomplished, but for how he did it. The 18-year-old led the race for several laps with absolute confidence, becoming the youngest driver in F1 history to lead a Grand Prix. He didn’t stop there—he also set the fastest lap of the race and broke the all-time Suzuka track record, beating Lewis Hamilton’s long-standing benchmark. For a rookie, that’s not just impressive—it’s legendary. A serious glimpse into F1’s future, and it looks fast.
Photo Credit: Formula 1 Twitter
Oscar Piastri
It was Oscar Piastri’s birthday on race day, and he definitely gave himself the best kind of gift—a strong, confident drive to P3 and another trip to the podium. From the start, he kept the pressure on the leaders, managed his tires well, and never put a wheel wrong. What made it even more special was the wave of support surrounding him all weekend—from fans, the paddock, and of course, his McLaren team. A podium finish on your birthday? That’s one for the memory books.
Photo Credit: McLaren Twitter
