Max Verstappen Takes Surprise Pole at Japanese Grand Prix

SUZUKA, Japan — Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claimed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix on April 5, 2025, surprising observers with a record-setting lap in the final moments of qualifying.

Verstappen, the four-time defending Formula 1 champion, turned in a blistering time of 1 minute, 26.983 seconds to outpace McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.012 seconds. Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, qualified third, followed by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and George Russell of Mercedes.

The qualifying session saw intense competition, with Norris initially setting the pace. “I was very pleased with the lap,” Norris said. “But hats off to Max for an amazing time.”

Verstappen’s performance was described as “very unexpected” by his team, prompting celebrations in the Red Bull garage when his time appeared on the scoreboard. He acknowledged the surprise, stating, “We tried our best to get the best balance with the car, and in the end, my last lap was just flat out.”

This pole marks Verstappen’s 41st career start at the front of the grid, contributing to his impressive tally of 63 victories. Despite recent struggles, he now aims to win his fourth consecutive race in Japan.

“This is a proper highlight for us to be back on pole here,” Verstappen said. “The last lap was incredibly rewarding, especially with the new tarmac adding more grip.”

The qualifying session experienced a brief interruption due to a small fire at the track’s edge, caused by sparks from cars on the dry grass. Race officials are monitoring fire hazards and took swift action to ensure safety. The incident was a continuation of issues seen during practice sessions leading up to the race.

Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, who was recently promoted to Red Bull’s main team, had a disappointing outing, finishing in 15th place after failing to advance past Q2. Tsunoda expressed his frustration: “I had the pace to go through to Q3, but I just wasn’t able to put it together.”

The stage is set for an exciting race day, with Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri all ready to contend in what may be challenging conditions as rain is a possibility for Sunday’s race.

“I hope it rains,” said Lewis Hamilton, who qualified eighth. “We all face the same conditions, and it could level the playing field.”

As the teams prepare for the race set to begin at 2 p.m. local time on April 6, Verstappen is focused on leveraging his pole position to secure victory in a race said to be filled with uncertainty and competitive edge.