Issue #613: Maximised

This week’s edition begins with Formula 1 as a the first leg of the first triple-header of the year began with the Japanese Grand Prix. McLaren went into the weekend as overriding favourites, but Max Verstappen wielded his magic to return to the top step. Graham Harris, Taylor Powling and Dan Lawrence report on the action, while James Moy took the images. Verstappen’s exploits earned him glowing praise within the Suzuka paddock - and Dan and Taylor also commend the Dutchman’s brilliance in this week’s Start Your Engines. But with the Japanese GP being a mundane spectacle with limited overtaking, Vincenzo Landino explains that it’s the modern cars that have outgrown the classic venues that the sport still visits in his Business of Speed column this week. Elsewhere, the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship campaign kicked off with the 42nd Rally Sierra Morena in Spain, which saw Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov prevail in the season-opening event. David Ledbitter provides a run down. With FIM MotoGP continuing next weekend, Eden Hannigan has taken the chance to have a look back on the talking points from the opening three races of the 2025 season. And, as always, we have all the usual news, views and stories in this week's edition of the most widely read weekly motorsport magazine in the world!