In an intense moment at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Lando Norris found himself in a precarious position alongside Max Verstappen in the pitlane at Suzuka.
Norris, who had been keeping pace with Verstappen through the first stint of the race, saw the two drivers enter the pits simultaneously for their only stop. Both teams opted for a switch to hard tires, and McLaren managed a slightly faster pit stop for Norris. However, as the duo approached the end of the pitlane, Verstappen maintained a slight lead.
As Norris attempted to release his pit exit speed limiter a fraction quicker than Verstappen in a bid for position, the narrowing and curving pitlane exit left him with no room. Forced to veer onto the grass to avoid contact with the Red Bull, Norris was momentarily concerned as a concrete wall loomed nearby but managed to re-enter the track safely. The incident sparked radio exchanges from both drivers, with Norris accusing Verstappen of forcing him off, while Verstappen suggested an unsafe release by Norris.
The stewards, after reviewing the situation, decided that no further action was necessary, allowing Verstappen to continue and ultimately win the race, narrowly beating Norris by a second. In the post-race debrief, Norris, though visibly disappointed, acknowledged the competitive nature of racing against Verstappen. “It’s racing, I think. I mean, he was still ahead,” Norris remarked. “Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space, in a good way and in a racing way,” he added, downplaying the incident as part of the contest.
The two drivers shared a light-hearted moment in the cooldown room post-race, where Verstappen humorously referred to the McLaren as an “expensive lawnmower.” Despite the close call, Norris graciously congratulated Verstappen, admitting, “Max drove a good race today, no mistakes, and the pace was too similar to today to do anything more.”
Reflecting on the race weekend, Norris expressed that McLaren had hoped for better positions, yet acknowledged Red Bull’s progress with their RB21 car. “They’ve obviously made some improvements. As a team, we didn’t have enough this weekend, so we have to work harder for the next one,” Norris concluded.
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix highlighted not only the fierce competition between Norris and Verstappen but also underscored the progress Red Bull has made this season. As both teams continue to push the limits, fans can anticipate more thrilling battles on the track.
