Max Verstappen produced a major upset to snatch pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
It had appeared throughout the weekend that claiming pole would be a formality for McLaren, whose drivers have shared a pole and win each at the opening two rounds of the 2025 season, but Red Bull’s Verstappen came from nowhere to trump them.
Piastri was clearly fastest on the first runs in Q3, before Norris appeared to have snatched pole with his second attempt, but Verstappen delivered a time of 1:26.983 to take a fourth successive Suzuka pole as the top three were left separated by less than half a tenth of a second.
The remarkable nature of Verstappen’s effort was emphasised by the four-time world champion’s new team-mate Yuki Tsunoda only managing 15th on his Red Bull debut, finishing a place behind Liam Lawson, the driver he was switched with from junior squad Racing Bulls.
The brilliance of Verstappen’s lap was also highlighted by the reaction from the Red Bull garage. His engineer Gianpiero Lambiase described it as “insane”, while team principal Christian Horner’s verdict was “unbelievable”.
Charles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari but Lewis Hamilton was three tenths off his team-mate in a disappointing eighth as the seven-time world champion’s turbulent start to life with the Italian team continued.
Mercedes’ George Russell had appeared the most likely driver to challenge the McLarens going into qualifying, but had to settle for fifth after making an error on his final flying lap. His rookie team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli took an encouraging sixth.
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar overcame apparent seat-belt issues that he expressed extreme distress about over radio in the early stages of the session to take seventh.
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Watch the moment Carlos Sainz appeared to block Lewis Hamilton during Q2 of the Japanese Grand Prix
Alex Albon was ninth for Williams, while British rookie Oliver Bearman completed the top 10 after producing a highly-impressive performance for Haas to reach Q3.
Carlos Sainz finished qualifying in 12th in the other Williams but will start Sunday’s race from 15th after receiving a three-place grid penalty for blocking Hamilton during Q2.
Fires kept under control as Verstappen brings heat
Coming into qualifying, there had been fears that trackside grass fires could cause significant disruption after two red flags were required in each of the two preceding practice sessions.
Thankfully, only one stoppage was needed during qualifying, and it came at a time – midway through Q2 – where it didn’t majorly impact the competitive picture.
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Q2 was momentarily red-flagged after another fire caused stoppage at the Japanese Grand Prix
The forecast of rain overnight could help the situation, but the FIA will undoubtedly take the same pre-emptive measures it did ahead of Saturday’s action to attempt to ensure the main event isn’t compromised.
It was instead Verstappen who brought the heat, dragging every bit of performance out of his RB21 to claim a first pole since last June’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen said: “We tried the best we could to get the best possible balance. It wasn’t easy but every session we had little improvements.
“That made the difference. The last lap was just flat out and it is incredibly rewarding.”
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Max Verstappen was left in disbelief after snatching pole from both McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Japanese Grand Prix
The length of that unwanted streak highlights the struggles Red Bull have been through since Verstappen dominated here 12 months ago, but also offers a reminder that the Dutchman cannot be counted of a title race many have already decided will be fought between McLaren’s drivers.
“I was fully committed on the final lap. At points, not sure if I was going to keep it (on the track), said Verstappen.
“If you look at how our season started, even this weekend, it is very unexpected and that makes it a very special one.”
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Max Verstappen says he’s looking to ‘not make it easy’ for the McLarens, after the Red Bull driver took pole at the Japanese Grand Prix
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: “We didn’t expect that. It was an outstanding lap from Max, one of his best laps in qualifying ever.
“He extracted very ounce of performance and getting pole was against the run of form we have been seeing and a big boost for the team.
Verstappen now faces what will likely be an ever-greater challenge to keep Norris, who he trails by eight points at the top of the drivers’ standings, and Piastri, who won impressively in China last time out.
Sky Sports F1’s live Japanese GP schedule
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Here’s your paddock pass for the Japanese Grand Prix, joining Naomi Schiff as she shares a sneak peek in Suzuka!
Sunday April 6
- 4.30am: Japanese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 6am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX*
- 8am: Japanese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
- 9am: Ted’s Notebook*
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula is at the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
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