The Dutchman Max Verstappen demonstrated undeniable dominance since he landed in Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix and, after leading the three free practice sessions, he also signed the pole, with a time of 1:28.877, followed by the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren ) and the British Lando Norris (McLaren) and with the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) sixth and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) tenth, respectively.
The two-time F1 world champion - whose third title is only a matter of time - has not dropped out of first place in all the sessions. Free Practice 1, Free Practice 2, Free Practice 3 and the three qualifying rounds this Saturday. In all of them first and no pilot could put him in trouble.
A change of situation of 180 degrees compared to what happened in Singapore a week ago, when both Red Bulls were left out of Q3 for the first time since Russia 2018.
Everything returned to normal as soon as he landed in Japan and Verstappen once again demonstrated why he achieved this season the greatest record of consecutive victories in the history of F1 - ten - which was broken in Singapore and that, barring a mechanical problem or major error, will resume in Japan.
He signed the pole with a time of 1:28.877 and behind him, more than half a second, appeared both McLarens, which continue to take steps forward in their dazzling evolution that has made them go from starting the season as one of the worst teams to being "the best of the rest." And within his internal dispute, Piastri, recently renewed until 2026, won the game against his teammate Lando Norris.
In fourth position will be the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and the Mexican Sergio 'Checo' Pérez (Red Bull) will be fifth after being far from his teammate at all times, from whom he finished 773 thousandths behind.
For his part, the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), author of the last two pole positions, in Monza and Singapore - in the latter he also won the race - could only be sixth.
His compatriot Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) will start tenth in Sunday's race (7:00 CEST, -2 GMT) and remains, after 15 classifications, as the only driver who has been among the top ten -Q3- in all of them; maintaining this streak even when his car is far from being the second best on the grid. In Japan he was 1.683 seconds behind Verstappen's pole.
A qualifying session in which during the first phase -Q1- there were six minutes of activity until an accident by the American Logan Sargent in the last corner forced the stewards to raise a red flag and suspend the session for 13 minutes.
.1. Max Verstappen NER Red Bull
.2. Oscar Piastri AUS McLaren
.3. Lando Norris GBR McLaren
.4. Charles Leclerc MY Ferrari
.5. Sergio Pérez MEX Red Bull
.6. Carlos Sainz ESP Ferrari
.7. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes
.8. George Russell GBR Mercedes
.9. Yuki Tsunoda JAP Alpha Tauri
10. Fernando Alonso ESP Aston Martin
11. Liam Lawson NZL Alpha Tauri
12. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpine
13. Alex Albon THA Williams
14. Esteban Ocon FROM Alpine
15. Kevin Magnussen YOUR Haas
16. Valtteri Bottas FIN Alfa Romeo
17. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin
18. Nico Hülkenberg GER Haas
19. Zhou Guanyu CHN Alfa Romeo
20. Logan Sargeant USA Williams.
