F1, Japan: pole and record for Max Verstappen, mocked McLarens. Leclerc 4th, Hamilton in trouble

With an incredible lap, worth a new Suzuka circuit record, Max Verstappen took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, the third round of the 2025 season. The Red Bull Dutchman completed his best lap in Q3 with a time of 1:26.983, burning Lando Norris, who will start second at the wheel of his McLaren, by 12 thousandths.

In third position will start the’other car from the Woking stable, that of Oscar Piastri. Next to him will be Charles Leclerc, first of the two Ferrari drivers, whose best lap was 316 thousandths slower than Verstappen’s. Third row for the two Mercedes: George Russell will start fifth, next to him Kimi Antonelli.

Decidedly unprecedented is the fourth row: the surprising Isack Hadjar in fact took the seventh time, placing ahead of a Lewis Hamilton seemed in trouble and unable to go beyond a time, in the third session, 627 thousandths slower than Max Verstappen. Closing out the day’s Top 10 are Alex Albon, ninth in the Williams, and Ollie Bearman, tenth in the Haas.

Fourth after Q2 were, in’order, Pierre Gasly of Alpine, Carlos Sainz of Williams, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls and a disappointing Yuki Tsunoda, making his Red Bull debut. On the other hand, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto of Kick Sauber, Esteban Ocon of Haas, Jack Doohan of Alpine and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin did not make it past Q1: the Australian and the Canadian will close out the initial lineup on Sunday.