F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying Review: Max Verstappen stuns to grab pole at Japanese Grand Prix

Verstappen’s first pole of the season

Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen showed class to steal pole from the McLaren drivers at the Japanese Grand Prix 2025. Verstappen put in a stunning final lap to take his first pole position of the year, with Lando Norris starting on the front row with him. The McLarens once again set the benchmark pace in all of the practice sessions and Q1 and Q2 but the Dutchman stepped it up when it mattered most. 

Here’s a recap of the Japanese Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session.

Q1 – Jack Doohan’s misery continues

After having a big crash in the Free Practice session, the Alpine rookie Jack Doohan’s struggles continued in the qualifying session as well. While it was Oscar Piastri setting the benchmark time with a 1:28.1s in his first run. As the cars got their laps in, the VCARB of Liam Lawson, both the Aston Martins and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli sat in the drop zone.

As the chequered flag fell, Piastri went even quicker with a 1.27.6s while George Russell’s Mercedes was sandwiched between the McLarens at the top of the timing charts in second place. The bottom of the table meanwhile saw the two Saubers of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto fail to make it out while Esteban Ocon, Jack Doohan and Lance Stroll also were eliminated in Q1.

Drivers eliminated in Q1 –

Nico Hülkenberg
Gabriel Bortoleto
Esteban Ocon
Jack Doohan
Lance Stroll

Q2 – Tsunoda fails to make Q3 in Red Bull debut

Max Verstappen hit the ground first as Q2 got underway and set the benchmark time before Lando Norris put in the fastest time at 1:27.1s. Russell once again impressed, putting up a strong timing, going two hundredths slower than Norris’s benchmark time while the two Ferraris failed to touch the McLarens or Mercedes of Russell.

As the session went on, Norris held on to the quickest time but it was Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Oliver Bearman and Pierre Gasly sitting in the drop zone in the final two minutes. The final few laps saw Haas’ rookie Oliver Bearman storm out of the drop zone and Alex Albon held on at the expense of his teammate. The only remaining Alpine and Aston Martin of Gasly and Alonso failed to get out as did Sainz and the Lawson and Tsunoda.

Drivers eliminated in Q2

Pierre Gasly
Carlos Sainz
Fernando Alonso
Liam Lawson
Yuki Tsunoda

Q3 – Verstappen shows class as McLaren unable to touch the World Champion

The final qualifying session saw Verstappen start with the benchmark time of 1:27.278s before Piastri stole the top spot with a 1:27.052s. The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc improved in his final run, managing to get up to P3 before Norris stole provisional pole in the final 10 seconds of the session with a 1:26.995s.

Norris’ teammate, Piastri failed to improve on his time but it was Verstappen with a blazing final section stole pole position by 0.012s to take his fourth consecutive pole in Suzuka. 

Starting Grid for the Japanese Grand Prix 2025 (before any penalties)

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Kimi Antonelli
7. Isack Hadjar
8. Lewis Hamilton
9. Alex Albon
10. Oliver Bearman
11. Pierre Gasly
12. Carlos Sainz
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Liam Lawson
15. Yuki Tsunoda
16. Nico Hülkenberg
17. Gabriel Bortoleto
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Jack Doohan
20. Lance Stroll