Max Verstappen gave himself a great chance to retain his Formula One world title at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix after grabbing pole in Suzuka. The Red Bull driver topped the timesheets in qualifying with a time of 1min 29.304sec, just 0.010sec ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, his nearest championship rival. 

Carlos Sainz was third in the other Ferrari. Verstappen then faced a nervous wait after stewards said they would investigate a scary on-track incident involving the Dutchman and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Verstappen was given a reprimand but will remain in pole.