Verstappen: We know our limitations and still have work to do

Verstappen took a great win at Suzuka, his fourth in a row at the classic Japanese track after beating both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

However, the seed was planted on Saturday after that stunning pole position, which is a crucial element to win around Suzuka, as the Dutchman made sure he finished almost 90% of the job in qualifying.

What made the win even more sweet is the fact that Red Bull Racing and Honda were celebrating their successful partnership with Honda in their last Japanese Grand Prix together as partners, the RB21 wrapped in a striking white livery celebrating Honda's classic RA272 grand prix-winning car.

"We couldn't have wished for a better result today in our final race with Honda here together," Verstappen said in Red Bull's race report. "It's been amazing and I'm really proud of what we have done this weekend.

"We made all of the right calls during the race, were constantly pushing and our tyres weren't overheating so much due to the colder tyre temperature which helped us. Yesterday was a beautiful day for us and the key to the win was to start from pole. We maximised everything we could and to follow this up with the win is fantastic," he explained.

However, the four-time Formula 1 champion is not getting ahead of himself yet and warned Red Bull they have work to do with their RB21, which was 12th in the hands of Yuki Tsunoda.

Verstappen added: "We know our limitations and still have work to do. We are just finding where we can push the car to the limit and need to maximise everything that we can to get the best out of the car and make it more balanced.

"Finally, this is a perfect send off for Honda and our relationship is something I will never forget," the Dutchman, who won 59 grands prix with Honda power continued. "I've enjoyed my time with them and how they work: they are so professional and dedicated and they have given me so much.

"Together to win four Drivers' Championships and two Constructors' Championships is unbelievable. It did cross my mind whilst driving that it would be insane to win here today and at a home track for Honda, so that gave me a bit of motivation as well.

"It's a proper send off and we couldn't have wished for a better weekend," the Red Bull ace concluded.

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner hailed the drive Verstappen delivered in Japan on Sunday and said: "What a race! An imperious drive from the front secured a fourth consecutive win at Suzuka for Max, the Team and of course our engine partners Honda who we owe a debt of thanks and gratitude for their support over the years.

"In reality though the hard work was done yesterday. It has to be one of the best weekend's of Max's career, one that further underlines Max as the best in the world currently.

"Suzuka is a driver's circuit and boy did Max deliver," Horner trumpeted.

He also ensured the Red Bull team got the credit they deserved; he said: "Equally, credit has to go to the engineering Team as well for turning things upside down after Friday and pushing together to get the job done."

Verstappen is now second in the 2025 F1 drivers' championship, one point behind Norris.