Max Verstappen produced a major concern to grab Pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
It had appeared throughout the weekend that Paul’s claim would be a formality for McLaren, whose drivers have shared a pole and won each in the opening of two rounds of the 2025 season, but Red Bull’s verstappen came from nowhere to trump for them.
The piastri was clearly faster in the first runs in Q3, before Norris appeared to have kidnapped poles with his second attempt, but Verstappen delivered a 1: 26.983 time to get a consecutive fourth pole after the first three were left separated by less than half a second.
The extraordinary nature of Verstappen’s attempt was highlighted by the new friend of the world champion four times Yuki Tsunoda only managing the 15 in his Red Bull debut, ending a place after Liam Lawson, the driver with whom he was interrupted by Junior Squad Racing Bulls.
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Liam Lawson exceeded his replacement Red Bull Yuki Tsunoda but both crashed into the Japanese Grand Prix Q2
Charles Leclerc took fourth place for Ferrari but Lewis Hamilton was three tenths by his teammate in an eighth eighth as the troubled start of the seven -time world champion with the Italian team continued.
Mercedes’s George Russell had appeared the most likely driver to challenge Mclarens going to qualify, but had to be resolved for the fifth after making a mistake on his last flight lap. His novice teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli received an encouraging sixth.
Racing Bulls Rookie Issack Hadjar overcame the visible issues of the seat belt that he expressed extreme radio concerns in the early stages of the session to get the seventh.
Alex Albon was ninth for Williams, while British novice Oliver Bearman completed Top 10 after producing a very impressive performance to reach Q3.
More to follow …
Direct Japanese GP program of Sky Sports F1
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Here is your Paddock pass for the Japanese Grand Prix, joining Naomi Schiff while it shares a sneaky look at Suzuka!
Sunday April 6
- 4.30 morning: Japanese GP Construction: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 6 morning: Grand Prix Japanese*
- 8 Breakfast: Japanese GP reaction: Controlled Flag*
- 9 Morning: TED Notebook*
*Also live in Sky Sports Main event
The formula is in the Suzuka iconic circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, Live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – without contract, cancel at any time
