Rookie kimi antonelli

Japanese GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen pulled off a stunning late lap to take pole position for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, denying McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a nail-biting finish at Suzuka Circuit on Saturday.

Despite struggling for grip early in the session and reporting issues with tyre performance, the Red Bull ace surged to the top with a blistering 1m 26.983s lap, just 0.012s quicker than Norris, while Piastri had to settle for third.

McLaren had dominated the early phases, with Piastri topping Q1 and Norris leading Q2, and looked set to continue that form in Q3. But Verstappen’s final run saw him snatch pole away in the dying moments, reinforcing his dominance despite initial doubts.