Untouchable Verstappen roars to Japanese GP pole

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Max Verstappen takes pole position at the Japanese by half a second ahead of the the McLarens. Max Verstappen takes pole position at the Japanese by half a second ahead of the the McLarens. Max Verstappen emphatically returned to pole position at the Japanese GP with a stunning qualifying performance. The two-time world champion ensured there was be no repeat of his shock Q2 exit in Singapore and roared to his ninth pole position of the season with a brilliant 1:28.877.Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will line up behind the Red Bull on Sunday in second and third respectively with the two McLarens over half a second down on Verstappen's pole time. Verstappen's 0.581s advantage over Piastri is the largest pole margin at Suzuka since Michael Schumacher in 2004.Ferrari had taken pole at the last two Grands Prix but had to settle for fourth with Charles Leclerc and sixth with Carlos Sainz.Leclerc, though, faces a post-session stewards investigation, along with Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas, for exceeding the maximum lap time of 1:54 during Q1.Sergio Perez split the two Ferrari cars, but the Red Bull man was 0.773s down on team-mate Verstappen's effort.Lewis Hamilton managed to outqualify Mercedes team-mate George Russell but the Silver Arrows will line up seventh and eighth.Yuki Tsunoda delighted his home fans by securing ninth place for AlphaTauri ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who extended his record of being the only driver to reach every Q3 session this season.A big crash for Logan Sargeant at the final corner brought out a Q1 red flag. The American driver - who was able to walk away from his wrecked Williams - tried to push through a wobble and careered into the barriers having not set a lap time, allowing Alex Albon to maintain his 100 per cent qualifying record over his team-mate.Japanese GP Qualifying result 1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull2) Oscar Piastri, McLaren3) Lando Norris, McLaren4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari7) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes8) George Russell, Mercedes9) Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri10) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin More to followWatch the Japanese Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from 4.30am Sunday, with lights out at 6am. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW. Cancel anytime