Verstappen Snatches Japanese GP Pole From Norris in a Nail-Biter

McLaren’s Strong Weekend Ends with Verstappen Late Surge to Pole Position at Suzuka

Max Verstappen once again reminded everyone why he’s a three-time world champion by pulling out a stunning final lap at Suzuka to claim pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix—edging out Lando Norris by just 0.012 seconds. It was a dramatic finish to a qualifying session that had, until the very last moments, looked like McLaren’s to lose.

McLaren had been on top throughout the weekend. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri looked comfortable and fast around the classic Suzuka circuit, and when Q3 began, it seemed like one of them would be leading the grid on Sunday. But then Verstappen, who had trailed the papaya cars most of the weekend, delivered one of those laps only he seems capable of pulling out of nowhere.

“Incredible,” said Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase over the team radio, clearly stunned. “That is insane.” And he wasn’t the only one impressed. Norris, who had just lost out by a blink, was quick to give credit: “Max did an amazing lap,” he said. “I’m happy because I feel like I got everything out of the car today. We were right on the limit. Just not enough in the end.”

Tight Margins, High Stakes: Suzuka Delivers the Goods Again

Oscar Piastri ended up third, 0.024 seconds off pole, having briefly led the session with an early flyer. The Australian, ever composed, sounded disappointed but realistic: “The last lap just didn’t come together like I wanted,” he said. “The margins were incredibly tight today. There’s still everything to fight for tomorrow.”

Behind the front three, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc slotted into fourth place, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the top five. Russell had been impressively close to Verstappen on the first Q3 run, just 0.04 seconds off, but a scrappy final attempt—losing the rear end through Turns One and Two—put an end to any pole hopes.

His teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, still finding his feet at this level, had a much stronger session, closing the gap to Russell to just over two-tenths and securing sixth place. Rookie Isack Hadjar once again impressed in the Racing Bull, grabbing seventh ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who couldn’t find the pace when it mattered.

Hamilton Struggles as Sainz Takes a Penalty

Firefighters pour water on a grass fire by the side of the track at Suzuka

It was a frustrating day for Lewis Hamilton. He had shown flashes of strong pace in Q2, running close to Leclerc’s times and even having to dodge an awkward moment when Carlos Sainz blocked him on a hot lap. But when it came down to the Q3 shootout, Hamilton couldn’t put a clean lap together.

“I just struggled today,” he admitted. “In Q3, I wasn’t able to improve. First lap had a big oversteer snap in the middle sector. Second one, I was still down in that same part of the track. Not where I want to be.”

Sainz, for his part, was handed a three-place grid penalty for the incident with Hamilton and will start 15th—well below expectations for a Ferrari driver at this point in the season. His teammate Leclerc, while not quite in the pole fight, continues to deliver consistent performances.

Williams’ Alex Albon did well to snag ninth, while British rookie Oliver Bearman continued to turn heads with a composed drive into the top ten for Haas. He’ll start ahead of his veteran teammate Esteban Ocon, who languished down in 18th.

Tsunoda’s Tough Day at Home as Grass Fires Cause Delay

A marshal throws a bucket of water on the grass alongside the track at Suzuka

For Yuki Tsunoda, it was supposed to be a special home Grand Prix. The Japanese driver had been promoted to Red Bull for this race, replacing Liam Lawson just two races into the season. But his qualifying session was far from clean. A messy lap in Q2 left him down in 15th, nearly half a second off Verstappen’s time and just behind Lawson’s Racing Bull.

“Very sad,” Tsunoda said over the radio. “I couldn’t prepare the tyres properly and the lap was messy.” It was a frustrating result, especially given that in Q1 he was just 0.024 seconds behind Verstappen, showing the potential that had got him the seat in the first place.

The qualifying session itself wasn’t smooth either. Yet again, grass fires caused a red flag, with a blaze breaking out at the exit of the iconic 130R corner during Q2. It was the fifth such incident of the weekend, following four stoppages during practice on Friday and Saturday.

Officials had soaked the grass with water prior to qualifying, hoping to prevent another flare-up, but to no avail. They had considered pre-emptively burning sections of grass in a controlled manner, but time constraints and safety concerns around the advertising hoardings made that impossible.

Rain is expected overnight, which might help reduce fire risk ahead of the race, but it’s likely the FIA will have to take a harder look at how to manage this going forward.

Verstappen Lap at Suzuka: “Very Special”

Verstappen Lap at Suzuka: “Very Special”

For Verstappen, pole at Suzuka isn’t just another line on his résumé. The circuit is widely regarded by drivers as one of the most technical and rewarding in the world, and Verstappen was clearly buzzing after putting together a lap like that on such hallowed ground.

“We tried everything to get the best balance from the car,” he said. “Every session we were making little tweaks and improvements. Then in the final lap, it was just flat out. On the limit—maybe a little over it in some places. But that’s Suzuka. You have to commit. The grip from the new tarmac helped but it made it more intense.”

“It’s insane, honestly. An F1 car around here is something else. That lap… it was special. Especially after how we started the weekend, it wasn’t looking likely. That’s what makes it even sweeter.”

Looking Ahead: Race Day Forecast and Storylines to Watch

Rain could shake things up on Sunday, though the forecast remains uncertain. If conditions stay dry, Verstappen will be in a strong position to control the race from the front. But the McLarens will be right behind him, hungry and clearly capable of challenging.

Keep an eye on Piastri, who still seems to be finding the final piece of consistency needed to challenge Verstappen over a full race. And don’t count out Leclerc or Russell—both have shown enough to pounce if any of the frontrunners slip.

Then there’s the midfield battle, which looks tight and unpredictable as always. Antonelli and Hadjar continue to prove they belong in F1, while Bearman’s calm under pressure is becoming a real asset to Haas. Hamilton will be hoping for a race that brings the car to him, especially if rain comes into play.

And of course, there’s Tsunoda. A home race comeback story is still on the table, but he’ll need a flawless drive—and maybe a little chaos ahead—to make something special happen in front of the Japanese fans.