Verstappen grabs Japanese GP pole, edges McLarens

Suzuka

Max Verstappen snatched pole position for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix with a last-minute flying lap, edging out the McLarens in a tense qualifying showdown.

Verstappen, who struggled early with tyre grip, set a lap of 1:26.983 to beat Lando Norris by just 0.012 seconds. Oscar Piastri took third after McLaren had led Q1 and Q2.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, while George Russell placed fifth for Mercedes despite a scrappy final lap. Rookie Kimi Antonelli continued to impress, landing sixth in the second Mercedes. Isack Hadjar bounced back from technical issues to take P7 for Racing Bulls.

Lewis Hamilton ended up eighth for Ferrari, ahead of Alex Albon’s Williams and Haas’ Ollie Bearman, who scored his best qualifying result this year.

Japanese fans were left disappointed as local hero Yuki Tsunoda, racing for Red Bull at home, was eliminated in P15. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) also missed Q3. Sainz is under investigation for allegedly blocking Hamilton in Q2.

Further back, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto failed to escape Q1 in their Kick Saubers. Esteban Ocon, Jack Doohan, and Lance Stroll had poor outings as well—Stroll ended last after going off track.

The stage is now set for an exciting race day at Suzuka, with Verstappen leading the charge but McLaren hot on his heels.