In a surprising turn of events, Max Verstappen delivered an exceptional performance to seize pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, outqualifying McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Throughout the weekend, it seemed McLaren was poised to easily secure pole, especially after their drivers dominated the first two races of the 2025 season. However, Verstappen and Red Bull dramatically improved, surpassing expectations to take the top spot.
During Q3, Piastri initially set the pace, followed by Norris who seemed to have secured pole on his second attempt. But Verstappen then clocked an impressive time of 1:26.983, claiming his fourth consecutive pole at Suzuka. The top three drivers were separated by a mere fraction of a second.
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Lando Norris, McLaren
3) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
7) Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
8) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
9) Alex Albon, Williams
10) Oliver Bearman, Haas
Verstappen`s outstanding lap was further highlighted by his teammate Yuki Tsunoda`s 15th position on his Red Bull debut, just behind Liam Lawson, his replacement at Racing Bulls.
The Red Bull garage erupted in praise for Verstappen`s lap. His engineer Gianpiero Lambiase called it `insane,` and team principal Christian Horner described it as `unbelievable`.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton experienced a disappointing session, ending in eighth, three-tenths behind his teammate, continuing his difficult start with the Italian team.
Mercedes` George Russell, initially seen as a challenger to McLaren, finished fifth after a mistake on his final lap. His rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli achieved a promising sixth place.
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, despite earlier seat-belt concerns, secured seventh position.
Alex Albon for Williams and British rookie Oliver Bearman for Haas, who delivered a strong Q3 performance, completed the top 10.
Carlos Sainz qualified 12th but will start 15th due to a grid penalty for impeding Hamilton in Q2.
Japanese GP Qualifying Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:26.983 |
| 2) Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.012 |
| 3) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.044 |
| 4) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.316 |
| 5) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.335 |
| 6) Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.572 |
| 7) Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +0.586 |
| 8) Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.627 |
| 9) Alex Albon | Williams | +0.632 |
| 10) Oliver Bearman | Haas | +0.884 |
| Knocked out in Q2 | ||
| 11) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:27.822 |
| 12) Carlos Sainz* | Williams | 1:27.836 |
| 13) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:27.897 |
| 14) Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:27.906 |
| 15) Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1:28.000 |
| Knocked out in Q1 | ||
| 162) Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:28.570 |
| 17) Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:28.622 |
| 18) Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:28.696 |
| 19) Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1:28.877 |
| 20) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:29.271 |
| *three place grid-penalty to be applied | ||
Fires Under Control, Verstappen Brings the Heat
Earlier, concerns arose about trackside fires disrupting qualifying after multiple red flags in practice sessions. Fortunately, only one brief stoppage occurred during Q2, which had minimal impact on the session.
While rain is expected overnight, the FIA is likely to take preventative measures to ensure the race is not affected.
Verstappen, however, brought the `heat` on track, maximizing his car`s performance to secure his first pole position since the Austrian Grand Prix last June.
Verstappen commented, `We aimed to find the best balance possible. It wasn`t easy, but we made small improvements each session. The final lap was all-out, and it`s incredibly rewarding.`
This pole position highlights Red Bull`s recent struggles since their dominant performance at Suzuka last year and serves as a reminder that Verstappen remains a strong contender in a championship battle many predict will be between the McLaren drivers.
`I pushed to the limit on the final lap, and at times, I wasn`t sure I`d stay on track,` Verstappen admitted.
`Considering our season`s start and even this weekend, this result is unexpected and makes it very special.`
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added, `We didn`t anticipate this. Max`s lap was outstanding, one of his best qualifying laps ever. He extracted every bit of performance, and securing pole, against the recent trend, is a significant boost for the team.`
Verstappen now faces a tough challenge to hold off Norris and Piastri, who are currently leading the drivers` standings and have shown strong form.
