Unexpected Pole Gives Max Hope

Verstappen poised to challenge McLaren's early dominance after record qualifying lap

- JAPANESE GRAND PRIX

SUZUKA – World champion Max Verstappen took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, stunning the McLarens with a late flying lap on April 5 to put his Red Bull at the front of the grid for the fourth year in a row at Suzuka.

The McLarens of championship leader Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have dominated qualifying so far this season and looked like doing so again, until Verstappen conjured up a lap record of 1min 26.983sec at the end of the session.

Briton Norris was 0.012 seconds behind and will start on the front row beside the 27-year-old Dutchman, while Australian Piastri, who won in China two weeks ago, will be on the second row, alongside Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

"A lot of happiness when I crossed the line," said four-time world champion Verstappen, who has won from pole at Suzuka for the last three years.

"The whole qualifying, we just kept on just trying to improve the situation a bit, and then the final lap was very good.

"I think if you look at how our season started, even during this weekend, I think it's very unexpected. I think that makes it a very special one."