As the Formula 1 circus heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, racing fans worldwide are eager to see who will conquer the third race of what’s already proving to be an exciting 2025 season. We asked an advanced AI racing analyst to predict the winner, and the answer might surprise you – though it makes perfect sense when you look at the data.
The Japanese Grand Prix has long been a pivotal race in the F1 calendar, with its challenging figure-eight layout and legendary corners like the high-speed 130R and the technical Spoon Curve testing drivers to their limits. But who has the edge this year?
The top contenders according to AI analysis
When prompted to make a prediction based on current season performance, historical track results, and team dynamics, the AI highlighted three main contenders:
Lando Norris – The British McLaren driver currently leads the championship with 44 points after winning in Australia and taking second place in China. The MCL39 has shown remarkable pace in the first two races, making Norris a strong contender at Suzuka.
Oscar Piastri – Norris’s teammate at McLaren sits fourth in the standings with 34 points. After a somewhat disappointing ninth place in Australia, Piastri bounced back with a victory in China, proving the McLaren has race-winning potential with either driver behind the wheel.
Max Verstappen – The Dutch Red Bull driver holds second place in the championship with 36 points. Though he hasn’t won yet this season, his consistency keeps him in the fight. More notably, Verstappen has a stellar record at Suzuka with wins in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Historical Suzuka performance
The AI analysis noted some interesting historical facts about the Japanese Grand Prix that might influence this weekend’s outcome:
Michael Schumacher holds the record for most wins at this track with six victories between 1995 and 2004. Lewis Hamilton follows with five Suzuka triumphs from 2007 to 2018.
In recent years, Verstappen has practically owned this circuit, with three consecutive victories. This track record can’t be ignored when making predictions.
Driver changes to watch
An interesting shake-up for this race: Yuki Tsunoda will be joining Max Verstappen at Red Bull, replacing Liam Lawson. Racing on home soil, the Japanese driver will be extra motivated to perform well, though he’ll likely still be a step behind his world champion teammate as he adjusts to the car.
The AI’s final prediction
After weighing all factors—current form, historical performance, and team dynamics—the AI gives the edge to Max Verstappen for the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite McLaren having what appears to be the faster car right now, Verstappen’s experience and past success at Suzuka, plus his renowned wet-weather skills (with rain in the forecast), give him a slight advantage.
The AI notes that while McLaren has the strongest package on the grid currently, Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum performance even from a less competitive car makes him the favorite. (That’s the magic of a four-time world champion for you—they just find a way to win!)
Our take on the prediction
The McLaren duo of Norris and Piastri have split the first two victories of the 2025 season, making them logical favorites for Suzuka. The MCL39 appears to be the car with the most raw potential on the grid right now, and all things being equal, they should be the team to beat.
In fact, the internal battle between Norris and Piastri shapes up as one of the most exciting storylines of the early season. Both drivers know they can’t afford to drop points against each other if a title fight develops. Think of it as a mini championship within the championship.
Just behind them, despite having a more difficult car to drive, Max Verstappen will be waiting to pounce on any mistake. His three previous wins at Suzuka and flawless driving so far this season speak volumes. Want to bet against Max? That’s rarely been a winning strategy in F1 lately.
We shouldn’t discount the Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc either. Hamilton surprised everyone with Sprint pole and victory in China, showing Ferrari has pace when conditions align. With rain predicted for the Japanese weekend, could we see the red cars making a splash?
What about the Spanish duo? The AI suggests both drivers will be fighting for points positions, which seems reasonable given their cars’ performance in the first two races.
Factors that could change everything
Have you ever seen Suzuka in the rain? It’s a completely different animal. If the forecast holds true, wet conditions could shake up the entire grid and favor drivers with superior car control. This might bring Hamilton more firmly into contention given his rain mastery.
The track’s unique layout also stresses cars in ways we haven’t seen yet this season. Teams that have sorted their aerodynamic balance will have a significant advantage through the high-speed technical sections.
So who are you picking for the win? Will McLaren continue their winning streak, can Verstappen reassert Red Bull’s dominance, or might we see a surprise from Ferrari or another team? The beauty of F1 is that while data and analysis can point us in likely directions, racing always delivers the unexpected.
The checkered flag awaits at Suzuka, and we’ll soon find out if the AI got it right.
