Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen pips Lando Norris to pole at Suzuka

Max Verstappen clenches his fist in celebration having taken pole for the Japanese Grand Prix

Ferrari and Mercedes were not quite in the battle for pole.

Leclerc was 0.316secs off Verstappen’s time and Russell ended up 0.335secs back.

The Briton had been just 0.04secs slower than Verstappen on his first run in the final session, albeit 0.266secs behind Piastri. But a mistake at Turn One and Two on his final run, the rear stepping out in both corners, prevented him improving.

His team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had lagged behind Russell all weekend, closed to within just over 0.2secs behind as a result and will start sixth, ahead of the Racing Bull of the consistently impressive rookie Isack Hadjar.

Hamilton had been closely matched with Leclerc in second qualifying, even though he was impeded by Carlos Sainz’s Williams on his final lap. But he lacked pace in the top 10 shootout session.

“I generally struggled,” Hamilton said, “and when I got to Q3 I wasn’t able to improve. Had a big snap oversteer in the middle sector on the first lap and then the second lap, I was only down in that sector. Not where I want to be.”

Williams’ Alex Albon took ninth ahead of an outstanding performance from British rookie Oliver Bearman in the Haas.

Bearman starts 10th, with his experienced team-mate Esteban Ocon down in 18th.