Max Verstappen secured pole for the Japanese GP with a… Read more
Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix with a record-breaking lap, edging McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.012 seconds. Verstappen posted an incredible time of 1:26.983 in his Red Bull, securing his first pole of the season. He was followed by Norris in second and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who qualified third.
This result came despite a challenging start to the season for Verstappen and McLaren’s impressive form in all three practice sessions at Suzuka. Verstappen’s dominant performance in qualifying was unexpected given the earlier struggles, particularly in comparison to McLaren’s strong showing throughout the weekend.
Verstappen acknowledged the surprising turn of events, reflecting on how the season began, saying, “If you look at how our season started—even during this weekend—it’s very unexpected.” His pole position in Japan marks a significant achievement for the Red Bull driver, who has faced tough competition from McLaren in recent races.
On the other hand, Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda, who made his debut with the senior Red Bull team this season, faced a difficult qualifying session. The 24-year-old struggled to match the pace of his new teammate, qualifying only 15th on the grid. Tsunoda’s performance was a disappointment for the home crowd, who had high hopes for the driver following his previous success with AlphaTauri. Despite showing promise earlier in his career, he was unable to make an impact in his first appearance for the top-tier Red Bull team.
Norris, who is currently leading the championship standings, is part of McLaren’s resurgence this season. The team has been in exceptional form, securing wins in both the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix, including a one-two finish in the latter. Norris, who will be looking to break Verstappen’s three-year winning streak in Japan, expressed his optimism for the race. “We’ll do our homework tonight,” Norris said, acknowledging that the race could be similar to the Australian Grand Prix in terms of strategy and overtaking opportunities. He added, “Now I’ve got to try and do some overtakes—so we’ll see. It’s exciting.”
Despite his pole position, Verstappen remained cautious about his prospects for the race. While confident in his abilities, he emphasized that there were still issues to address. “I don’t say, ‘oh, I’m first now, everything is perfect,’” Verstappen remarked. “We still have clear issues that we need to solve. That’s what we’re continuing to work on.” As the race approaches, it’s clear that the battle between Verstappen and McLaren will be one to watch closely.
