Max Verstappen loves Suzuka, as shown by his superb pole lap for Red Bull. The question now is will he be able to stay ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri when the lights go out in Japan.
Or could the joker in the starting pack be Charles Leclerc? The Ferrari star is fourth on the grid, four spots up on team mate Lewis Hamilton. Between the scarlet cars sit the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and the Racing Bulls machine of rookie Isack Hadjar.
Completing the top 10 are Williams’ Alex Albon and the Haas of Oliver Bearman. Albon’s team mate Carlos Sainz had been due to start 12th, but has been penalised three places for impeding Hamilton during Qualifying.
And what of the home favourite Yuki Tsunoda you ask? The Japanese driver will start his first Grand Prix for Red Bull from P14 – one place behind the man he replaced at the team, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson.
Starting Grid
FORMULA 1 LENOVO JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2025
| Pos. | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Max VerstappenVER | 1:26.983 |
| 2 |  Lando NorrisNOR | 1:26.995 |
| 3 |  Oscar PiastriPIA | 1:27.027 |
| 4 |  Charles LeclercLEC | 1:27.299 |
| 5 |  George RussellRUS | 1:27.318 |
| 6 |  Kimi AntonelliANT | 1:27.555 |
| 7 |  Isack HadjarHAD | 1:27.569 |
| 8 |  Lewis HamiltonHAM | 1:27.610 |
| 9 |  Alexander AlbonALB | 1:27.615 |
| 10 |  Oliver BearmanBEA | 1:27.867 |
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix starts at 1400 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 1300 here.
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