Verstappen Brutal Pole in Suzuka in the rain

The rating in Suzuka was really a show, with Max Verstappen (Red Bull) showing exactly why it is one of the most dominant drivers in the current grill. According to publications in X, Verstappen achieved a time of 1:26.983, ensuring his first pole of the 2025 season and the number 41 of his career. The session was very tight, especially with the McLaren, who were incredibly competitive throughout the weekend.

• Q1: Verstappen started strong, marking the rhythm from the beginning, although the session was interrupted by red flags due to incidents on the track, such as those reported in previous free sessions (according to Car and Driver, the Libres 2 had four red flags for accidents and burning lawns). Despite the interruptions, the favorite riders advanced without major problems, although some like Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) showed a good initial rhythm, according to @JuanjoSaezF1 in X.
• Q2: There was an intense battle between the McLaren and Verstappen. However, drivers such as Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) failed to find the pace they needed and stayed out of top 10. Tsunoda, who had begun with a good foot, was also left behind in this phase, which generated criticism of his lack of consistency, as mentioned @JuanjoSaezF1. Meanwhile, young talents such as Isack Hadjar (AlphaTauri) and Oliver Bearman (Haas) were surprised to make progress on Q3.
• Q3: The definition was impressive. Verstappen, on a return that @JuanjoSaezF1 described as “crazy,” managed to advance the McLaren for a thousandths. Lando Norris (McLaren) stayed only 0.012 seconds, and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) at 0.044 seconds, completing a very tight top 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) entered the fourth position, 0.316 seconds, while George Russell (Mercedes) closed the top 5 to 0.335 seconds of Verstappen, according to @JordiAVZ.

Final classification of the grill

The departure grill for the Japan Grand Prix was as follows, according to posts in X:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:26.983
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.012
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.044
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.316
5. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.335
6. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – (exact unspecified position, but top 10)
7. Isack Hadjar (AlphaTauri) – P7
8. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – P8
9. Alexander Albon (Williams) – P9
10. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – P10
11. (Times were not specified for the following, but positions are mentioned:)
12. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – P12
13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – P13

It is remarkable that Yuki Tsunoda is not in top 10, especially considering it was his home career and had a good start. Also surprising is the low performance of Sainz and Alonso, who failed to advance to Q3, which highlights the difficulties faced by Ferrari and Aston Martin in finding their rhythm in Suzuka.

Classification anecdotes

The Japan Grand Prix 2025 has been a roller coaster of surreal moments, especially in pre-classification sessions. According to Car and Driver, during the Frees 2 on Friday, April 4, the Suzuka circuit became a real chaos: the lawn lit twice due to the sparks of the monopoles, which led to the rise of red flags. In addition, Fernando Alonso and Jack Doohan (Alpine) had quite serious accidents. Alonso lost control on the Degner 1 curve by placing his left rear wheel on the lawn, while Doohan crashed at a high speed in the first variant, visibly morphing out of his Alpine A525. These difficult conditions, coupled with a rash wind, probably affected the performance of some drivers during the classification.

Another interesting detail was the performance of young pilots. Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman managed to sneak into top 10, generating a wave of positive feedback on social media. On the other hand, the elimination of Alonso and Sainz in Q2 was a hard blow for Spanish fans, who expected a better result in a circuit where both have shined in the past.

Reaction of sports newspapers

The sports media have highlighted the impressive return of Verstappen and the competitiveness of the McLaren. Mark, in his coverage of the weekend, mentioned that Verstappen ” stole the pole from the McLaren by a thousandths”, highlighting the intensity of the Q3. On the other hand, AS.com emphasized the disappointment of the Spanish pilots, with Sainz and Alonso out of top 10, and also underlined the good performance of the debutants Hadjar and Bearman. ESPN Mexico, in its pre-week analysis, had already predicted that Suzuka would be a crucial circuit for Red Bull in its struggle for the title of builders, and Verstappen’s pole seems to confirm that expectation.

Car and Driver, in his practice report, described the weekend as “surrealist”, not only for fires on the lawn, but also for McLaren’s doubling in the Free 2, which although not translated into pole, did result in a first row shared with Verstappen. The media have also put the focus on the pressure on Tsunoda, who, despite being the local pilot and having been promoted to Red Bull after Liam Lawson’s dismissal, failed to highlight the ranking.

Reaction on social networks

Social networks, especially in X, burst with emotion with Verstappen pole. Users like @LatidosF1 celebrated the achievement with great enthusiasm: “Verstappen achieves pole position with a time of 1:26.983, beat the McLaren, total madness! But not surprising, Max is a legend.” @martinhigueras also applauded the return of the Dutch: “Wonderful pole of Verstappen at the #JapaneseGP! That last round has been… impressive, that’s why he’s a world champion.” However, not everything was pink for Red Bull, as @JuanjoSaezF1 criticized Tsunoda’s performance: “Tsunoda started well, but failed in Q2.”

The fans were also surprised to see Hadjar and Bearman on top 10, with @criis_2997 commenting: “Gran Qualy de Hadjar P7, Albon P9 and Bearman P10”. On the other hand, there was disappointment at Sainz and Alonso’s performance, with comments that reflected frustration at the lack of rhythm of Ferrari and Aston Martin in a circuit as demanding as Suzuka.

Statistics and predictions about the winner of the race

Historical statistics and qualifying performance offer some clues about who could win the race on Sunday, April 6, 2025:

• History in Suzuka: Suzuka is a circuit where pole position has an important weight. According to historical data (such as those mentioned by Marca in the China GP), circuits with at least 15 races have a high percentage of wins from the pole. In Suzuka, although an exact percentage is not specified, Verstappen has won from pole in the past (as in 2023, according to Motorsport.com), which makes it the favorite.
• Récord de Verstappen: Verstappen has an impressive history in Formula 1. According to Motorsport.com, up to 2025, he has won 63 races, placing him third on the historical list behind Lewis Hamilton (105) and Michael Schumacher (91). In Suzuka, Verstappen has been dominant in recent years, and its 2025 pole reinforces its position as a favorite.
• McLaren Competition: However, McLaren has shown a very strong rhythm in Suzuka. According to Car and Driver, they achieved a double in the Free 2, and their proximity to Verstappen in classification (0.012 and 0.044 seconds) suggests they could challenge him in career. Oscar Piastri, who has already won three races in his career (the last in China 2025, according to Motorsport.com), and Lando Norris, with five victories, are serious threats.
• External factors: The conditions of the circuit, such as the crunched wind and the previous incidents (burned stone, accidents), could influence the race. In addition, the tire strategy will be key, especially if there is a risk of rain, as mentioned in the GP of China 2025 (Mark).
• Other contenders: Leclerc, in P4, has a chance if Ferrari improves his career. Russell and Hamilton, in P5 and P8, could also fight for the podium if Mercedes finds a good rhythm, but his recent record suggests that they are one step behind Red Bull and McLaren.

Prediction: Based on the statistics and ranking performance, Max Verstappen has a 60% chance of winning the race, thanks to his pole and his history in Suzuka. However, McLaren, with Norris and Piastri, has a 30% chance to surprise, especially if they achieve a better strategy or take advantage of any Verstappen error. Leclerc and Ferrari have a 10% choice, but they would need an exceptional career rhythm to beat the leaders.

Conclusion

The ranking of the Japan 2025 Grand Prix was a real show full of tension, with Max Verstappen achieving an impressive pole position in front of some McLaren who showed themselves very competitive. The weekend anecdotes, like the fires on the lawn and the accidents of Alonso and Doohan during the practice, gave a dramatic touch to the day. The media and social networks have praised the return of Verstappen, although they have also highlighted the disappointments of drivers such as Sainz, Alonso and Tsunoda. Statistics seem to favor Verstappen for the race, but McLaren is closer than ever, which promises an exciting battle in Suzuka on Sunday, April 6, 2025.