Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Giles Richards at Suzuka

Max Verstappen restores normal service for Red Bull with Japanese F1 GP pole

Max Verstappen during qualifying at Suzuka, on his way to a ninth pole position of the season
Max Verstappen during qualifying at Suzuka, on his way to a ninth pole position of the season. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Faint hopes that Max Verstappen could be vulnerable were summarily dashed in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix. The runaway championship leader delivered a blistering pole position as normal service for the world champion and Red Bull resumed at Suzuka.

Verstappen’s pole lap with a time of 1min 28.877sec was almost six-tenths clear of the second-placed McLaren of Oscar Piastri, with his teammate Lando Norris in third. Piastri, a rookie taking his first front-row start for a grand prix, had put in an immense lap on a circuit he has never raced before to become only the fifth Australian to make the front row.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.