Verstappen secures pole at Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen secured a surprising pole position for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka with a record lap time of 1:26.983 minutes, marking his first pole since the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix. Despite struggling with car balance throughout the weekend, Verstappen delivered an impressive final sector to outperform McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who will start in P2 and P3 respectively. This pole position also highlights Red Bull's resilience, especially after Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen's new teammate, qualified in P15. Verstappen expressed his surprise at the pole, crediting ongoing improvements to the car for the turnaround. The race is set to be competitive with potential rain forecasted, adding uncertainty to the race dynamics. As Verstappen aims to maintain his success at Suzuka, McLaren's strong performance will challenge him for the podium.