Max Verstappen produces 'insane' lap record to stun McLaren and take pole position for the Japanese GP - as Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari struggles continue

Max Verstappen overcame doubts astir his car to nutrient a scintillating thigh and assertion rod presumption for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

All the speech truthful acold successful 2025 has been astir McLaren's dominance, but the Dutchman fired retired a reminder of his ain rubric credentials by pipping Lando Norris to pole.

Verstappen seemed to astonishment himself with the thigh helium managed to nutrient connected a play erstwhile Red Bull person mostly struggled for pace.

Earlier successful the day, during 3rd practice, Verstappen complained astir the deficiency of grip successful his beforehand tyres.

But helium managed to enactment those complaints to 1 broadside to unafraid rod astatine Suzuka for the 4th twelvemonth running.

Verstappen said: 'We tried the champion we could to get the champion imaginable equilibrium of the car. Every league we kept connected making small improvements and that's what made the difference.'

Early title pacesetter Norris was conscionable 0.012seconds down Verstappen but conceded his rival had produced a peculiar lap.

'Congrats to Max, helium did a bully job,' said Norris, whose team-mate, Oscar Piastri volition commencement third. 'I'm happy, I consciousness similar I got everything retired of the car today.'

It was a atrocious day, however, for Lewis Hamilton who could lone suffice eighth, lone 2 spots up of young Brit Oliver Bearman, who made it retired of Q3 for the archetypal clip this season.

Meanwhile, Liam Lawson responded to his demotion from Red Bull aft lone 2 races of the 2025 play by out-qualifying Yuki Tsunoda, the antheral who has taken his seat.

Tsunoda had been keeping interaction with his caller team-mate Verstappen, but his gait disappeared successful Q2. He volition commencement 15th with Lawson 1 spot further ahead.