SUZUKA, Japan. – Max Verstappen put himself on course to wrap up a second successive Formula One title in the Japanese Grand Prix by edging Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc to pole position in qualifying at the Suzuka circuit on Saturday.
The 25-year-old hustled his Honda-powered Red Bull around the popular figure-of-eight layout in one minute, 29.304 seconds, beating Leclerc by just 0.010 seconds.
Carlos Sainz was 0.057 seconds off the pace in the other Ferrari in third.
Verstappen came under investigation for dangerous driving after appearing to swerve into the path of McLaren’s Lando Norris but was let off with a reprimand.
Norris was forced to drive off the track and onto the grass to avoid contact and said he expected Verstappen to be penalized.
But replays showed the tail of the Red Bull stepping out, with stewards noting that Verstappen had temporarily lost control of his car on cold tyres.
