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
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Four minutes of the session remaining as everyone heads back to the pits.
Will we have these grass fire issues in qualifying? It looks like this latest incident was caused by Gabriel Bortoleto planting two wheels on the grass. He does well to save himself from losing control but the sparks set fire to the dry turf.
Another red flag.
Another grass fire at the edge of the track.
Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Lando Norris has popped it up to the top of the times, pretty much matching his team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Could we have a real fight on our hands between these drivers?
Just 0.026s separate the two McLarens at the moment. Not much in it at all.
But now it comes together for Lando Norris. He nails his latest lap with 1:27.965 putting him top of the pile with seven minutes to go.
It hasn't come together yet for Lando Norris but that's not the case for his team-mate Oscar Piastri, who is quickest with 1:27.991 - almost a tenth of a second quicker than George Russell.
Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Lando Norris set a blistering first sector, two-tenths quicker than the best that was previously set by Charles Leclerc.
He was looking good until he got down to Turn Nine and just ran wide, he's really struggling down there.
Lando Norris is purple through the first sector but that good work is undone by a messy second sector. He's currently seventh quickest.
Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
We're going to see quite a few of the drivers out now on a soft set of tyre because this is their last chance to get in those final push runs before qualifying.
There's a lot more red-walled tyres out there now as teams switch focus to qualifying runs for the final 15 minutes of the session.
Some floor damage for Lando Norris? His McLaren is in the garage with the wheels off with some work being done on it.
Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
I'm impressed with how George Russell has started this season, his pace is looking pretty strong in that Mercedes at the moment.
Image source, Getty ImagesImprovements at the top of the timesheet, but not enough to dislodge George Russell as Oscar Piastri gets to within 0.029s of the Mercedes' driver's time.
Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Haas will be looking to make big steps this weekend, Oliver Bearman is sat in 10th place. It's not a bad lap time on the hard tyre, he's mixing it up in between a few drivers who are on the mediums.
George Russell, on softs, goes quickest of all with 1:28.385. That's four tenths quicker than the McLarens.
Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator
Yuki Tsunoda has never been outqualified by a team-mate in Japan, meanwhile his team-mate for this weekend Max Verstappen has never qualified outside the top five here.
That could be nice and dicey for qualifying.
Long runs are the focus for Max Verstappen as he completes his 11th lap on the hard compound of tyres.
Nico Hulkenberg isn't happy as he whizzes past a slow Red Bull which had just come out of the pits.
We're halfway through the session and it remains a mix of softs, mediums and hards as the teams gather different bits of data for race and qualifying conditions.
Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
I was thinking when that radio message was being played it sounds like a completely different Yuki Tsunoda from a couple of seasons ago.
He's definitely much more mature and relishing having this opportunity to jump into the main Red Bull team.
He seems nice and calm and working through the issues more concisely and professionally.
Some feedback from Yuki Tsunoda as he reports that he is pretty happy with the handling of the Red Bull, saying there's a bit of understeer but overall it is "better" than yesterday.
Image source, Getty Images| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lando Norris  McLaren | 4 | 1:27.965 | 17 |
2 | Oscar Piastri  McLaren | 81 | 1:27.991 | 17 |
3 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:28.077 | 15 |
4 | Charles Leclerc  Ferrari | 16 | 1:28.414 | 13 |
5 | Max Verstappen  Red Bull | 1 | 1:28.497 | 21 |
6 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:28.524 | 13 |
7 | Alexander Albon  Williams | 23 | 1:28.554 | 19 |
8 | Pierre Gasly  Alpine | 10 | 1:28.603 | 15 |
9 | Yuki Tsunoda  Red Bull | 22 | 1:28.785 | 15 |
10 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 1:28.786 | 16 |
11 | Carlos Sainz Jnr  Williams | 55 | 1:28.846 | 22 |
12 | Liam Lawson  RB | 30 | 1:29.104 | 19 |
13 | Kimi Antonelli  Mercedes | 12 | 1:29.126 | 20 |
14 | Jack Doohan Alpine | 7 | 1:29.767 | 15 |
15 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:29.772 | 17 |
16 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:30.084 | 17 |
17 | Gabriel Bortoleto  Sauber | 5 | 1:30.134 | 13 |
18 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:30.183 | 17 |
19 | Lance Stroll  Aston Martin | 18 | 1:30.267 | 16 |
20 | Nico Hulkenberg  Sauber | 27 | 1:30.621 | 17 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1:28.114 | 13 |
2 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 1:28.163 | 12 |
3 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 1:28.518 | 12 |
4 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:28.544 | 14 |
5 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 1:28.559 | 13 |
6 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:28.567 | 13 |
7 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:28.586 | 14 |
8 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | 1:28.670 | 9 |
9 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:28.757 | 13 |
10 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:28.832 | 9 |
11 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:29.023 | 11 |
12 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 1:29.062 | 12 |
13 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 1:29.335 | 13 |
14 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:29.507 | 13 |
15 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:29.654 | 10 |
16 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:29.733 | 13 |
17 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:29.978 | 5 |
18 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 1:30.625 | 12 |
19 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:30.845 | 12 |
20 | Jack Doohan Alpine | 7 | 1:31.659 | 4 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 1:28.549 | 24 |
2 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:28.712 | 29 |
3 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:28.965 | 27 |
4 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:29.051 | 25 |
5 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | 1:29.065 | 23 |
6 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 1:29.172 | 25 |
7 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:29.222 | 25 |
8 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 1:29.225 | 28 |
9 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:29.284 | 28 |
10 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:29.333 | 28 |
11 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:29.392 | 25 |
12 | Ryo Hirakawa Alpine | 62 | 1:29.394 | 24 |
13 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 1:29.536 | 28 |
14 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:29.547 | 23 |
15 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1:29.708 | 25 |
16 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:29.758 | 25 |
17 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 1:30.023 | 21 |
18 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:30.077 | 17 |
19 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:30.123 | 21 |
20 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 1:30.147 | 26 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 3 | Qualifying 3 | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | 1:27.943 | 1:27.943 | 1:27.502 | 1:27.502 | fastest lap 1:26.983 | fastest lap 1:26.983 | Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:26.983 |
2 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 1:27.845 | 1:27.845 | fastest lap 1:27.146 | fastest lap 1:27.146 | 1:26.995 | 1:26.995 | Qualifying 3, 1:26.995 |
3 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | fastest lap 1:27.687 | fastest lap 1:27.687 | 1:27.507 | 1:27.507 | 1:27.027 | 1:27.027 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.027 |
4 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:27.920 | 1:27.920 | 1:27.555 | 1:27.555 | 1:27.299 | 1:27.299 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.299 |
5 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:27.843 | 1:27.843 | 1:27.400 | 1:27.400 | 1:27.318 | 1:27.318 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.318 |
6 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:27.968 | 1:27.968 | 1:27.639 | 1:27.639 | 1:27.555 | 1:27.555 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.555 |
7 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 1:28.278 | 1:28.278 | 1:27.775 | 1:27.775 | 1:27.569 | 1:27.569 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.569 |
8 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:27.942 | 1:27.942 | 1:27.610 | 1:27.610 | 1:27.610 | 1:27.610 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.610 |
9 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:28.218 | 1:28.218 | 1:27.783 | 1:27.783 | 1:27.615 | 1:27.615 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.615 |
10 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:28.228 | 1:28.228 | 1:27.711 | 1:27.711 | 1:27.867 | 1:27.867 | Qualifying 3, 1:27.867 |
11 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:28.186 | 1:28.186 | 1:27.822 | 1:27.822 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:27.822 |
12 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:28.209 | 1:28.209 | 1:27.836 | 1:27.836 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:27.836 |
13 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:28.337 | 1:28.337 | 1:27.897 | 1:27.897 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:27.897 |
14 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 1:28.554 | 1:28.554 | 1:27.906 | 1:27.906 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:27.906 |
15 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 1:27.967 | 1:27.967 | 1:28.000 | 1:28.000 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:28.000 |
16 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 1:28.570 | 1:28.570 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:28.570 |
17 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 1:28.622 | 1:28.622 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:28.622 |
18 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:28.696 | 1:28.696 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:28.696 |
19 | Jack Doohan Alpine | 7 | 1:28.877 | 1:28.877 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:28.877 |
20 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:29.271 | 1:29.271 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:29.271 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Grid | Pits | Fastest Lap | Race Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | 1 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
2 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 2 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
3 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 3 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
4 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 4 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
5 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 5 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
6 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 6 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
7 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 7 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
8 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 8 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
9 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 9 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
10 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 10 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
11 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 11 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
12 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 12 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
13 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 13 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
14 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 14 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
15 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 15 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
16 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 16 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
17 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 17 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
18 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 18 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
19 | Jack Doohan Alpine | 7 | 19 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
20 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 20 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
