Verstappen to 'Keep Grinding' After First Win

Red Bull driver now just one point behind Norris after fourth straight victory in Japan

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SUZUKA - Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said he will "keep grinding" after winning the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6 for his first victory of the Formula One season, ahead of McLaren's championship leader Lando Norris.

The Red Bull driver led from pole to checkered flag to cross the finishing line almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris, who held off his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri of Australia in third.

The win on a damp but drying track at Suzuka was Verstappen's fourth straight victory in Japan and closed the gap on Norris at the top of the drivers' championship to a single point.

Verstappen has struggled to get to grips with his Red Bull this season. But after the first of a triple-header of race weekends, he said the win showed "that if we really nail everything, we can be up there".

"It's nice, but I don't listen to the positives and the negatives, I'm just in the middle. I just focus on my own performances and just keep working, keep grinding," said the Dutchman, who was second in the season-opener in Australia and fourth in China.

Norris has 62 points after three races, with Verstappen on 61 and Piastri third on 49.

The action moves to Bahrain this week, with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix the weekend after.