Japanese GP: Verstappen on pole as Tsunoda suffers heartbreak on home soil

Max Verstappen delivered a pole position out of nowhere to mark Red Bull’s final Japanese GP with Honda power in style.

He will be joined on the front row by McLaren’s Lando Norris, his team-mate Oscar Piastri P3, on a Saturday in Suzuka where Verstappen quashed what was looking like a McLaren battle for pole, with Yuki Tsunoda managing P15 only in the sister Red Bull on debut in front of his home fans.

Japanese GP: Max Verstappen on pole, Tsunoda last in Q2

After two more grass fires in the final practice session, marshals had been out trying to dampen the grass further to avoid repeats, traffic cones even doubling up as water carriers for the effort.

But, now it was time for the acid test on their work, as qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix got underway.

Ferrari and McLaren were the first of the expected big hitters to get a time on the board...
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