Welcome to our new regular post-race round-up, a final look at the action, where we’ll break down the best and the bonkers of F1 from across the weekend. From our favourite photos to the slickest fits we spotted, plus all the behind-the-scenes goodness you might have missed.

Lando and Oscar couldn't find a way past Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in this week's Japanese Grand Prix, but there was still lots to love about the weekend, not least the double podium and a huge 33-point haul – the largest of the weekend for the third round running.

Away from the on-track action, we had some fantastic fan fits, a faulty candle and a new side hustle for Lando. 

Photo of the weekend
Little Lando

Introducing our new Reserve Driver… Little Lando.

It’s always good to have a spare, isn’t it? The newest member of our team will be available for media appearances, marketing requests and engineering meetings moving forward.

Lando’s mini-me was a nominee in multiple categories this round, but we settled on Photo of the Weekend. Joined by Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen’s doppelgangers, these three were the coolest characters in the paddock. We’ve seen some brilliant outfits over the years in Japan, but this incredibly accurate – and adorable – race suit and helmet combination is right up there.   

Best of social media
Rawr-some fans

The fans really showed up in Suzuka and are rightfully sweeping up the awards in this week's round-up.

Hot on the heels of the @McLarenFanChina's appearance in Shanghai, the Japanese fans had big shoes to fill. Unsurprisingly, they went all out… arriving in Suzuka with creative flags and posters, homemade T-shirts, papaya-coloured hair, helmets, F1-themed customers, and even a dinosaur (disclaimer: it may have been a costume).

 

Japan McLaren family 2025
Thank you very much for coming together again this year 😭

We love McLaren！！！🧡
McLaren fans in Japan are passionate！#Fanslikenoother #f1jp #日本マクラーレン軍団 #f1JapaneseGP #Fanslikenoother #JapaneseMCLfan #f1jp #McLaren @McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/smS6QGCepW

— ましろ　NEXT→ 4/3-6 F1日本GP鈴鹿現地 (@mashiro_REAL17) April 6, 2025

Outfit of the weekend
Koal-ity

We’re assuming these two are friends of Osc-koala Piastri. It wasn’t only dinosaurs they allowed into the paddock this weekend, we also had two koala’s make the trip from Australia. 

You may have missed
Fragile: Candle with care

If you’ve ever tried to celebrate a birthday while away, you’ll know it comes with added complications, but we weren’t expecting the candle to be one of them. Believe it or not, this wasn’t a trick candle or a joke for the camera’s benefit, admin genuinely couldn’t light it.

Thankfully, Oscar’s a great sport, and showed off his acting skills by pretending it was aflame. After all, if he had he waited for us to light the candle, we might still be there now…

Ohhh, and don't worry, this wasn't his only birthday cake. He was presented with a much bigger one by the team later in the day - it even had working candles. 

 

It’s the effort that counts..right?! 😂😭#McLaren | #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/m6Js6wrmoJ

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 6, 2025

Moment of the weekend
A shiny silver birthday present 

Oscar became only the seventh driver in the 75-year history of Formula 1 to score a podium on their birthday. Our Aussie star put on a brilliant performance to qualify and finish in third place, marking his second podium in a row and his 21st consecutive Grand Prix in the points.

Quote of the weekend
Fireman Lando

"There's more grass on fire. Turn...7? Seven-and-a-half."

Rain almost always improves the spectacle in F1, so as fans, we’re often hoping for a sprinkle for entertainment purposes, but it’s rare for the teams to be out in the paddock performing a rain dance. Yet, this weekend, as grass fires caused several Red Flags, we were all hoping for a bit of wet weather.

During practice, Lando was doing his best to help out, playing the role of fireman by highlighting where the grass fires were as he made his way around the track, such as at Turn 7-and-a-half… which we presume is the hidden corner between Turns 7 and 9 used to reach Hogwarts.

What’s next?

The final leg of the season’s first triple header. We’ll be heading to Saudi Arabia to round off a run of three races in three weekends.