Max Verstappen Secures Record-Breaking Pole at Japanese Grand Prix
Verstappen edges McLaren's Norris and Piastri in a tight Suzuka qualifying as rain looms over race day.
- Max Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive pole at Suzuka with a record-breaking lap time of 1:26.983, narrowly beating McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
- McLaren's strong form continued with Norris and Piastri qualifying second and third, separated by just 0.044 seconds from Verstappen.
- Yuki Tsunoda, competing in his first home race for Red Bull, qualified 14th, trailing the driver he replaced, Liam Lawson, who starts 13th.
- Carlos Sainz received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Lewis Hamilton during Q2, altering the starting order for Ferrari and Williams.
- Rain is forecasted to potentially impact the race, with wet conditions expected around mid-race, adding strategic uncertainty to the event.
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