Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a surprise pole position for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka ahead of the two McLarens.
A 1:26.983s effort set a lap record and beat Lando Norris by 0.012s with Oscar Piastri taking third.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen lacking ‘confidence’ in Red Bull RB21 after F1 Japanese GP practice
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will complete the second row with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the top five.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will line up alongside his Mercedes team-mate on Sunday and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar took an impressive seventh.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Williams’ Alex Albon and Haas’ Oliver Bearman rounded out the top-10.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen usurps McLaren duo to steal pole in Japan
Review the full results below.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:26.983 | |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:26.995 | |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:27.027 | |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:27.299 | |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:27.318 | |
| 6 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:27.555 | |
| 7 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:27.569 | |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:27.610 | |
| 9 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:27.615 | |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:27.867 | |
| 11 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | ||
| 12 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | ||
| 13 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | ||
| 14 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | ||
| 15 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | ||
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | ||
| 17 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | ||
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | ||
| 19 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | ||
| 20 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
