Max Verstappen edges out Charles Leclerc for pole position in Japan

Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon and Lewis Hamilton trailed the top three, with Fernando Alonso, George Russell, Sebastian Vettel and Norris rounding out the top 10.

AlphaTauri have brake issues but Tsunoda moves into Q2

As the wind speed reduced heading into the start of Q1, the drivers and fans got ready for an action-packed hour of qualifying, which started with Mercedes struggling to match the pace at the top of the timings chart. Homegrown star Yuki Tsunoda claimed the top spot before Norris edged ahead, but soon enough it was a familiar sight with Red Bull and Ferrari occupying the top spots after the first flying laps.

Hamilton and Russell found themselves running outside the top 10 after their initial laps, whilst the Alpine duo of Alonso and Ocon slid into the top seven. Mercedes started the qualifying session on the medium tyre, however, compared to everyone else, who entered the session on softs.

Both Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly found enough pace to get into the top 10 on their second runs, but, both reported brake issues, despite improving upon their times from the start of the session. The latter flat-spotted a set of soft tyres on the final chicane, it didn't affect his run, however, compared to Tsunoda's lock-up which caused him to return to the pits.

Suzuka is a favourite of Vettel's and it showed on the final lap as he moved into the top 10 from the elimination zone, yet he ended up down in 15th and only just survived into Q2.

ELIMINATED IN Q1 - Albon, Gasly, Magnussen, Stroll, Latifi

Track speed ramps up in final Q2 minutes

Ferrari sped out of the pits, but it was Verstappen who still claimed the top spot, with a lap time of 1:30.346. Daniel Ricciardo managed to creep his way onto the top five, edging ahead of Hamilton, Alonso and Perez, who sat down in eighth after a slow lap compared to his teammate. As for the rest of the grid after their first runs, Norris was the major misplacement. The young Brit had a purple first sector but it still wasn't enough to avoid the elimination zone as he had a small problem with his run towards the end of the lap.

Only Verstappen, Sainz and Leclerc stayed in the pits as the seconds ticked down, with everyone else vying for every last second on track to move into Q3. It came down to a battle between Russell and Ricciardo for the final spot in Q3, but it was the Brit that came out on top, avoiding a second-straight Q2 appearance.

ELIMINATED IN Q2 - Ricciardo, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou, Schumacher

Vettel's final Q3 appearance ends early

Red Bull and Ferrari were comfortably sat at the front of Q3, as Alpine, Mercedes and the rest struggled behind. The drama wasn't lacking, however, as Verstappen was on a slow lap, Norris came speeding round the final corner before the chicane and the two almost collided. The Dutchman lost his rear, causing the McLaren driver to take evasive action, spitting dirt up into the air and slowing his lap time.

Vettel's Q3 was over before the others had even started their final laps, as Aston Martin put the tyres on early for the upcoming retiree, finishing with a lap time of 1:30.354.