MAX VERSTAPPEN claimed pole position in qualifying on Saturday morning as he looks to get back to winning ways.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz ended the Dutchman’s 10-race winning streak last weekend after a thrilling race in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton claimed a podium finish and will be looking to do the same in Japan despite starting seventh on the grid.
- Race start time: 6am BST
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
- Live stream: NOW
- Grid: 1. Verstappen 2. Piastri 3. Norris 4. Leclerc 5. Perez 6. Sainz 7. Hamilton 8. Russell 9. Tsunoda 10. Alonso 11. Lawson 12. Gasly 13. Albon 14. Ocon 15. Magnussen 16. Bottas 17. Stroll 18. Hulkenberg 19. Guanyu 20. Sargeant
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How can I watch the Japanese GP?
- The Japanese Grand Prix will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sports F1.
- Subscription members of Sky Sports can stream the entire action on the Sky Go app or Sky Sports website.
- The race will also be available to NOW TV users via all mobile devices and tablets.
- Alternatively, SunSport will have lap-by-lap coverage of the whole race including podium reaction.
Current driver standings
- Max Verstappen / Red Bull Racing / 374
- Sergio Perez / Red Bull Racing / 223
- Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / 180
- Fernando Alonso / Aston Martin / 170
- Carlos Sainz / Ferrari / 142
- Charles Leclerc / Ferrari / 123
- George Russell / Mercedes / 109
- Lando Norris / McLaren / 97
- Lance Stroll / Aston Martin / 47
- Pierre Gasly / Alpine / 45
- Oscar Piastri / McLaren / 42
- Esteban Ocon / Alpine / 36
- Alexander Albon / Williams / 21
- Nico Hulkenberg / Haas / 9
- Valtteri Bottas / Alfa Romeo / 6
- Zhou Guanyu / Alfa Romeo / 4
- Yuki Tsounda / Alphatauri / 3
- Kevin Magnussen / Haas / 3
- Liam Lawson / Alphatauri / 2
- Logan Sargeant / Williams / 0
- Daniel Ricciardo / Alphatauri / 0
- Nyck De Vries / Alphatauri / 0 OUT
Credit: Rex Red Bull boss Horner on Verstappen’s performance in qualifying
Max Verstappen was back to his best after blitzing pole in Suzuka.
The Dutchman was over half a second clear of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in what was one of the stand-out laps all time.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: “What we have witnessed is something very special.
“That last lap, the first sector was absolutely mighty. Gianpiero Lambiase [Verstappen’s race engineer] started winding him up before his last run ‘let’s see a 28 [a lap of 1m.28s.] in there’ and I said to GP ‘I would like to see four wheels on the car at the end of it’.
“That first run looked good enough to get the job done but then he went quicker again.
“All his laps have been stunning today. An absolutely mind-blowing performance.”
Credit: Reuters
Qualifying in full
1. Max Verstappen
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Lando Norris
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Sergio Perez
6. Carlos Sainz
7. Lewis Hamilton
8. George Russell
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Fernando Alonso
11. Liam Lawson
12. Pierre Gasly
13. Alex Albon
14. Esteban Ocon
15. Kevin Magnussen
16. Valtteri Bottas
17. Lance Stroll
18. Nico Hulkenberg
19. Zhou Guanyu
20. Logan Sargeant
Hello and welcome to SunSport’s live blog of the Japanese Grand Prix!
Max Verstappen will start on pole after a stunning qualifying session on Saturday morning.
The Dutchman made no mistake after last week’s shock Q2 exit in Singapore.
The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will line up behind Verstappen in second and third respectively.
Lewis Hamilton will start seventh on the grid, with Mercedes teammate George Russell beginning just behind in eighth.
Max Verstappen will be hoping he can get back to winning ways after Carlos Sainz ended his 10-race winning streak last time out in Singapore.
Today’s race is set to get underway at 6am BST, stay with SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all the antics from Japan.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
