Red Bull driver exceeds expectations in unpredictable carBeats McLaren’s Norris by one hundredth of a second
Max Verstappen claimed pole for the Japanese Grand Prix with an immense lap for Red Bull at Suzuka, beating the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into second and third. Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, with his teammate Lewis Hamilton eighth. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were fifth and sixth for Mercedes.
The pole will be of no little relief to Verstappen and Red Bull and was very much against expectations, given that the car had not looked as strong as the McLaren or Mercedes in the opening rounds, nor at Suzuka this weekend. It demonstrated that given full rein, the RB21 is still a quick car and may yet be a title contender. McLaren looked strongest by some way in practice but when let fully off the leash at Suzuka in a tightly contested fight it was Verstappen and Red Bull who had the edge, setting up a fascinating fight for Sunday.
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