Summary

  • Max Verstappen takes Japanese GP pole

  • McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri second and third

  • Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton fourth and eighth

  • Lawson and Tsunoda qualify 14th and 15th respectively

  • Another grass fire brings out red flag in Q2 after two in final practice

  • Listen to 5 Sports Extra commentary by selecting audio tab (UK only)

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Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I'm going to stick with Oscar Piastri [for pole], I think he set a very impressive lap time. The track will evolve slightly and he's out on a brand new set of soft tyres along with everybody else.

  2. A scrappy start to his lap by George Russell which, given how close those behind Oscar Piastri were, could prove very costly.

  3. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Each driver is trickling out at a slow pace just to try and get that perfect track position and have nobody around them so they can have all that space to themselves.

  4. It is Oscar Piastri's birthday tomorrow. Will he be celebrating it by being on pole position?

    Everyone is on fresh rubber for this final shot at pole position.

  5. Oscar Piastri is two tenths quicker than Max Verstappen and almost half a second quicker than Lando Norris, who had the fifth quickest time in that first run.

  6. It is a good lap by George Russell but Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen go even quicker. Piastri is fastest with 1:27.052.

    Oscar PiastriReuters

  7. George Russell is on a strong lap as he goes purple through the first two sectors.

  8. Final qualifying starts

    Here we go!

    The battle for pole position is under way.

  9. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It looks a little bit more comfortable now for Isack Hadjar.

    He will be pleased that whatever issues he was having with his belts are all sorted.

  10. Who is going to secure pole position? It is hard to see past a McLaren based on their strong weekend so far.

  11. Replays show a slow Carlos Sainz blocking off Lewis Hamilton during Q2. The incident will be investigated after qualifying.

  12. A disappointing qualifying for Yuki Tsunoda then as he not only finishes 15th, but also slower than Liam Lawson, who he replaced at Red Bull.

  13. IN

    1) Norris

    2) Russell

    3) Verstappen

    4) Piastri

    5) Leclerc

    6) Hamilton

    7) Antonelli

    8) Bearman

    9) Hadjar

    10) Albon

  14. OUT

    11) Gasly

    12) Sainz

    13) Alonso

    14) Lawson

    15) Tsunoda

  15. Second qualifying ends

    Lando Norris finishes fastest in the second part of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

  16. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The times are so close, half a tenth could be one or even two places.

  17. A great lap from Oliver Bearman as he goes eighth quickest but that sees Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson drop into the elimination zone.

  18. Harry Benjamin
    BBC F1 Commentator

    Liam Lawson gets himself up to 10th, could he be looking for a first Q3 appearance this season? The irony of being demoted to the junior team [Racing Bulls] and doing better.

  19. No improvement from Yuki Tsunoda and he is unable to get out of the elimination zone.

    Interestingly Liam Lawson does go quicker than Tsunoda and is currently 10th quickest.

  20. Into the final four minutes and the track is getting busier now.