Verstappen Surprises With Record Pole Lap In Japan

Max Verstappen poses with the Pirelli Pole Award ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. (Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Red Bull photo)

SUZUKA, Japan – On a Saturday where onlookers expected McLaren to rule the roost again, it was four-time defending Formula One champion Max Verstappen who reminded everyone that Red Bull Racing isn’t going down without a fight.

Verstappen surprised even himself with a pole-winning lap of one minute, 25.983 seconds around the 3.618-mile, 17-turn Suzuka Circuit to earn the top starting spot for the Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix.

It topped Norris’ McLaren by a scant .012 seconds for qualifying honors, marking Verstappen’s fourth straight F-1 pole in Japan and the 42nd of his storied career.

Saturday also ended a time-trial drought dating back to the Austrian Grand Prix last June for the Dutchman, as he looks to crack into the win column for the first time this season on Sunday.

“It was an incredible qualifying (session) for us, even though the weekend has been quite tough so far,” noted Verstappen. “We kept working and the changes that we made going into qualifying helped, as we were lacking a bit of pace before. The car got a little better and we could attack the corners a bit more.

“During qualifying we kept trying to find little gains and drive to the limit, meaning that we improved nicely, which made the difference today. Every lap that we did, we built on and learned from,” Verstappen continued. “We maximized what we had, (I) didn’t make any mistakes on the lap, and it was a great result in the end. Pole was a surprise for everyone, as so far this year, we have not been the best on race pace … so I am very happy for the team.

“The last lap was just flat out. Around here, being on the limit or maybe a bit over it in places is incredibly rewarding.”

Verstappen not only became the third different pole winner in three grand-prix qualifying sessions this year, he also set the all-time Suzuka lap record on his final flying lap.

Norris starts second alongside Verstappen, while Piastri rolls off the grid third on raceday as McLaren seeks to extend its undefeated start to the year to three victories in a row.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rolls from fourth ahead of the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who share the third row of the grid in fifth and sixth, respectively.

Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar starts seventh for the second straight event, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Williams’ Alex Albon, and Haas F1’s Ollie Bearman closing out the top 10 on the grid.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly missed Q3 by .039 seconds and lines up 11th, while Yuki Tsunoda starts 15th at his home race in his debut for Red Bull.

Liam Lawson qualified just ahead of Tsunoda in 14th in his Racing Bulls return.

U.S. broadcast coverage of the Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix airs Sunday at 1 a.m. ET on ESPN.