F1 Japanese Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Max Verstappen on POLE for huge race ahead of Lando Norris – updates

Bear the fruits

Ollie Bearman has revealed the stunning tactic he used to score a surprise top-ten qualifying result at the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix.

The Haas rookie, 19, made a shock Q3 appearance after only running at best 15th fastest across the three practice sessions.

But the Brit, racing at the circuit for the first time in his F1 career, turned his form around on Saturday to place P10 – his team’s best qualifying result at Suzuka since 2019.

Speaking about his lap, Bearman revealed how using a tactic from “iRacing”, online motorsport races played through video games, had helped him gain vital time at the end of his lap.

He said: “I had a snap in the chicane. I was taking more and more kerb every single lap, and the last lap was a little bit too much.

“Every time I was doing it, I was gaining more and lap time, so I thought, why not take a little more?

“I was going as tight as I could to the wall. I don’t know why not everyone is doing that.”

How we start today

1 Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2 Lando Norris, McLaren

3 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

5 George Russell, Mercedes

6 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

7 Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

8 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

9 Alex Albon, Williams

10 Oliver Bearman, Haas

Rest of the grid

Charles Leclerc will start from fourth, and Mercedes pair George Russell and Kimi Antonelli fifth and sixth.

Brit Lewis Hamilton trailed Isack Hadjar in eighth after qualifying and rising star Oliver Bearman pushed his Haas car to the limit with a 10th placed finish.

After a controversial week at Red Bull, Liam Lawson managed to advance to Q2 for the first time this season and even finished one place ahead of replacement Yuki Tsunoda.

More on the qualifying controversy

Williams chief James Vowles hit out at the FIA to fix the issues ahead of qualifying – after attempts to water and trim it on Friday proved ineffective.

Vowles said: “I think it’s hampered all of us really.

“It’s just when you get into the flow, you need a couple of laps on the softs to get it right. And we just didn’t get that nor did anyone else for that matter.”

So definitely, we spoke to the FIA at the end of that one [FP3],” he added. “No one wants these, and it’s the same for everyone. That’s the best way I can put it.

“So it’s down to us to make sure that we don’t get caught out by it.”