SUZUKA, Japan — In a thrilling qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched the pole position on Saturday, setting the pace with a stunning lap time. He achieved a new lap record for the Suzuka circuit clocking in at 1 minute and 26.983 seconds. This qualification marks Verstappen’s 41st career pole position, further cementing his dominance in the Formula One arena.
Lining up next to him on the grid will be Lando Norris from McLaren, with his teammate Oscar Piastri sharing the second row alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Verstappen, reflecting on his performance, expressed delight, particularly considering the unpredictability at the start of the season and during the weekend’s events. “Given how our season and this weekend unfolded, it’s really special and somewhat unexpected,” he remarked enthusiastically. The atmosphere in the Red Bull pits was electric with mechanics visibly ecstatic over the result, showcasing the fruit of their labor.
The Suzuka track resurfacing also received praise from Verstappen, attributing part of his success to the improvements making the drive more enjoyable and exhilarating. “When you enjoy the track, the drive becomes even more thrilling. It was incredibly fast,” Verstappen noted, calling the achievement a pleasant surprise.
McLaren’s drivers have shown competitive form, with Norris acknowledging the excellence of Verstappen’s lap. “Congratulations to Max; his performance deserves applause,” Norris said. His teammate Piastri also conveyed satisfaction with his efforts and predicted an intense battle with Verstappen on race day, given forecasts predicting challenging weather conditions. Rain could introduce additional complexities into the race, potentially favoring Verstappen, renowned for his prowess in wet conditions.
Further down the grid, Mercedes’ George Russell secured fifth place, and his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli will begin from the sixth position. Despite a recent slowdown in his performance, Verstappen’s pole position sets him up as a favorite for potentially clinching his fourth consecutive victory in Japan.
Notably, Verstappen’s hold on recent races has seen a dip, with only two wins in his last 16 races. This weekend also showcased a high-profile driver swap within Red Bull, bringing Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda into the main team and shifting Liam Lawson to Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls. In qualifying, both struggled to make a significant impact with Lawson finishing 14th and Tsunoda ending up 15th. Tsunoda voiced a mix of frustration and determination to perform well in his home event despite subdued results.
Elsewhere, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will start in eighth place as he continues to adapt to his role at Ferrari. As it stands, the driver’s standings see Norris at the top with 44 points, closely followed by Verstappen at 36, Russell with 35, and Piastri at 34.
The qualifying session saw a brief interruption during the second of three sessions, with a small fire igniting on dry grass beside the track, stemming from sparks off racing vehicles. Although discussions arose about burning off the grass before Sunday’s events, this was ultimately dismissed due to expected rainfall. The weekend had already witnessed minor fires during practice sessions.