Provisional starting grid after Max Verstappen takes pole for Japanese GP

Formula 1 fans witnessed a vintage performance from Max Verstappen Saturday at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Frustrated with his challenger, the RB21, to start the season Verstappen admitted that he lacked the “confidence and committment” after Friday’s dual practice sessions. But he found that confidence on Saturday, putting in a blazing lap to take pole position ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

That blazing lap set a new track record in the process.

Now Verstappen will have to hold off those two fast McLarens in the race on Sunday, which will be no small task. Race simulation data continues to have McLaren at the top of the field, and with two wins already this season they remain the team to beat.

Further down the grid Mercedes locked out the third row with George Russell qualifying fifth, and Kimi Antonelli taking sixth. Isack Hadjar advanced into Q3 and took the seventh spot on the grid for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, and Oliver Bearman stormed into Q3 and will start tenth. That gives the field three rookies — Antonelli, Hadjar, and Bearman — inside the top ten.

Carlos Sainz Jr. was given a three-place grid penalty for an incident with Lewis Hamilton during qualifying. Race stewards found that the Williams driver impeded Hamilton while the Ferrari driver was on a push lap.

Here is the full provisional grid for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix: