![\"Red](\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AFP-Verstappen-Grand-PrixF1JpnQualifying-1024x683.jpg\")
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli sixth and RB’s Isack Hadjar seventh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was eighth, followed by Williams’s Alex Albon and Haas’s Oliver Bearman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norris is looking for his second grand prix win of the season, after triumphing in the season opener in Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He finished second behind Piastri in China a fortnight ago in a dominant start to the campaign for McLaren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m happy, congrats to Max, he did a good job,” said Norris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You have to credit something when it is a lap that good that he must have done. I got everything out of the car today, the gaps are tiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Good but not enough.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tsunoda was eliminated in Q2 in a disappointing first qualifying drive for Red Bull after being promoted in place of Liam Lawson last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Japanese driver finished one place behind Lawson, who returned to RB after just two races for Red Bull in a ruthless driver swap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verstappen has not looked comfortable this week and he again complained to his team over the radio in Q1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I still have the same problem, the tyres are not gripping on the front,” the Dutchman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Williams’s Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q2 along with Lawson and Tsunoda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sauber pair Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Haas’s Esteban Ocon, Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll were all eliminated in Q1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doohan’s practice on Friday ended when he crashed heavily into a barrier and mechanics had to work through the night to repair his badly damaged car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qualifying was suspended for about eight minutes in Q2 when a small trackside fire broke out as sparks from the cars ignited the grass in the dry conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was the fifth such incident of the weekend, with the second and third practice sessions also disrupted by fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rain has been forecast for Sunday’s race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Japanese F1 GP starts at 07:00 (CAT).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, breaking the track record, followed closely by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Yuki Tsunoda qualified 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