2024 FIA Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar scored his first Formula 1 points at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
The Racing Bulls driver was one of three F2 graduates to finish in the top 10 at the legendary Suzuka circuit.
Former PREMA pair Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also scored in Japan.
Isack Hadjar
The Frenchman enjoyed a strong weekend at a circuit he’d not raced at before, beating his new team mate Liam Lawson, who was back at the second Red Bull team after being dropped from Red Bull Racing following the second round in China.
Hadjar qualified an impressive seventh, ahead of his childhood hero Lewis Hamilton.
And while the Ferrari driver did find his way through in the Grand Prix, it was one of few overtakes in an unspectacular race.
"It's my favourite track" ?
Isack Hadjar believes his first points couldn't have happened at a better track!#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/oUv2pTXjnw
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
The 20-year-old said it was an “exhausting race” around the physical, 18-turn circuit, but that he had got the “maximum” from the afternoon.
He said: “I feel like we executed a perfect race, so a very well done to the team. Achieving P8 was our target today as Lewis was out of reach. We put it all together maximizing our performance, and therefore we’ve been able to achieve this result on merit, without benefitting from any issues of the others.
“I couldn’t be happier to be rewarded with my first points in F1 here in Suzuka after a weekend like that.”
Lawson finished 17th on his return to the team.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes young superstar continued to quietly impress alongside 2018 F2 Champion, George Russell.
Antonelli, 18, had struggled to get the most out of his W16 in the practice sessions but made a step forward to qualify sixth for the Grand Prix, as Mercedes locked out the third row of the grid.
The Italian driver ran deeper into the race than any of the top seven, eventually ending up in the lead, becoming the youngest driver to ever lead a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli becomes the youngest driver to ever lead a lap in Formula 1, pipping Max Verstappen at his maiden win in 2016 ?#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/mjhWxvQVE9
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 7, 2025
He would go on to finish where he started in sixth place, saying it was a “good race” and that he was pleased with how things had gone.
Antonelli said: “It was also a nice feeling to lead the race for a few laps and become the youngest driver in F1 history to have done so. The next goal is to do that on the only lap that matters: the final one!”
Oliver Bearman
Haas’ driver Bearman surprised everyone by dragging a car that has shown flashes of speed into Q3 and a top 10 position on the grid.
He would eventually finish in 10th position, collecting another point, saying that the car lacked the pace to challenge Hadjar’s Racing Bull or the Williams of Alex Albon, who finished ninth.
19-year-old Bearman said: “Australia was a big shock, and China was an even bigger shock for all of us as to come back with such great pace without changing anything on the car.
“This weekend we brought a slightly different floor to help the bouncing we’ve been struggling with and it seems like so far, so good. We have a lot of positives from this weekend so we’ll take a point and look forward to Bahrain.”
Your Suzuka point scorer ???#HaasF1 #F1 #JapaneseGP | @OllieBearman pic.twitter.com/8X6JT9UrBC
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) April 6, 2025
Jack Doohan
Aussie driver Doohan had an eventful weekend in Japan, which started with a heavy crash at the first corner in FP2.
Having discovered in the Alpine simulator that the first corner could be taken with the DRS rear wing flap open, the former Invicta ace tried it out in reality.
It had disastrous consequences as the 22-year-old spun and crashed into the tyre barrier at 160-mph.
With the car in ruins, the Australian had work to do in repaying his mechanics for their rebuild job.
However he could only manage 19th in the first part of qualifying, meaning he started from the back row of the grid.
Alpine started him on the soft compound tyre, which allowed Doohan to gain a few positions, with the final result being 15th place.
He said: “Given our starting position, we went more aggressive with tyre strategy with the Softs at the start, which allowed us to attack and gave us the best chance to move forward with the undercut.
“That also meant we ran a longer second stint on the Hard tyres [38 laps] and had to defend towards the end. I think we did well to keep Nico [Hülkenberg] at bay, but it was a pity we could not keep Carlos [Sainz] behind on the newer Softs.”
Gabriel Bortoleto
Reigning Formula 2 Champion Bortoleto finished 19th as all 20 drivers completed the race in Suzuka.
He had a difficult start, falling from 17th to last only made progress as Lance Stroll pitted early from starting on the soft tyres.
Despite to poor result on paper, the Brazilian says he’s leaving with positives from Japan.
The 20-year-old said: “Even though I was obviously aiming for more than the final result, I’m leaving Suzuka satisfied with how the weekend unfolded. I have learned a lot – it’s been a steady learning curve since Melbourne, and I am feeling more in control with each session.”
