Dramatic Start At The Japanese Grand Prix, All Incidents Explained

The Japanese Grand Prix 2025 has begun, but not without its share of drama. The event was marked by a series of dramatic events, from grass fire breakouts to shocking driver swaps and much more.

One of the most unexpected events was the occurrence of grass fires during the practice sessions, which caused multiple red flags and disrupted both practice sessions 2 and 3. Despite the FIA trying to resolve the issue by cutting and removing loose grass, the fires continued to raise concerns about safety and potential impact on the qualifying and the race itself.

Amidst the chaos of grass fires, McLaren emerged as a dominant force in practice sessions with Lando Norris, setting the fastest lap of the weekend in the FP3 with a time of 1:27.965s, closely followed by his team-mate, Oscar Piastri. Their performance set the tone for the upcoming qualifying race, making it a highly anticipated event. However, McLaren failed to claim the pole position, narrowly missing it by 0.012s as Max Verstappen took the lead. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished in the second and third positions, showcasing the team’s dominance in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Several crash incidents were also reported during the practice sessions involving Fernando Alonso and Jack Doohan, highlighting the chaotic organization of the event. Jack Doohan lost control of his car at Turn 1, and his car went through the gravel and slammed into the barriers, sustaining severe damage. Despite the violent impact, Doohan managed to walk away from the wreckage and was cleared of injuries.
Just minutes after Doohan’s crash, Fernando Alonso spun his Aston Martin and ended up in the gravel at Degner 1. He admitted post-session that he needed to review what went wrong, but noted that his car felt “critical” in such conditions.

Another heated incident occurred ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix when Red Bull Racing decided to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races. This move raised excitement for fans, and Tsunoda’s performance was much-awaited. However, as it turns out, he could not do good at the qualifying race and finished at 15th place just behind Liam Lawson, who he had replaced.

Overall, the Japanese Grand Prix was set to be a significant event in the F1 2025 season, but with all the dramatic events happening, the event has just made itself much more anticipating. The main race will take place on 6 April 2025, and we should be prepared for more such unusual activities, so stay tuned.

Also Read: Max Verstappen Takes Pole Position At The Japanese Grand Prix 2025