by Max Verstappen is ready for a fight with Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri after shocking the McLaren couple to claim the pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion was followed by the pace all weekend when the dominant McLaren duo combined for each session, including the first two parts of qualifying.
The championship manager Norris rose to the top of the Timskünste in front of his teammate with a nice round, but should be reversed by a sparkling run of Verstappen to put his Red Bull for the fourth year in Suzuka on the Pole in Suzuka.
Verstappen and Norris had a number of top-class scraps during their title fight last season, with the Red Bull driver often appearing at the top when he won the championship.
But McLaren won the first two races of the season – each for Norris and Piatri – and Verstappen is prepared for a hard battle on Sunday.
“It will be very difficult, but that’s okay. I will try to do my best,” said Verstappen.
“I mean, so far we have not been able to fight them this season, but it’s not as if we’re just sitting there and accepting it.
“We try to give the best and we will give a good fight tomorrow if we can.
“It is a very long championship and you always have to score points whenever you can.
“At least we start over and we’ll see where we are going.”
Verstappen Pole round underlined his champion quality and produced the pace from a car that has dismissed well all weekend.
The 27-year-old admitted that the previous deficit made it a “special” pole and also made a joke when he was asked to describe what it feels like to push the car to the edge.
“If you want to drive the car, you can try it, but I think you poop your pants. Are you allowed to say that in the press conference?” Replied Verstappen, who was previously sanctioned by the FIA.
“I had some very nice in other places, but I think when you look at how our season started, here too this weekend, it is very unexpected. I think that probably makes it very special.”
Norris was satisfied with his lap and expects an interesting race.
“We were fastest in every session, except in this, that’s a little frustrating,” he said.
“The unknown thing about the weather will make it exciting and I have to try to come over Max.”
Piatri will compete fifth from Mercedes from Mercedes from Ferraris in front of Ferraris Charles Leclerc with Mercedes’ George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton fought eighth place for Ferrari, while compatriot Ollie Bearman qualified an impressive 10th for Haas.
Grass fires were a problem all weekend, which was caused by sparks from the cars and is due to twice one and two practice before it has briefly red-flag-flag-flag.
Despite the grass on the side of the route, that was poured over before the session. Forecast rain on Sunday morning can help, but the FIA is confident that when the problem returns, either a full or virtual security car is sufficient with red flags of the race.
