Max Verstappen achieved his fifth pole position of the 2022
Formula 1 season in Japan. It may well prove crucial, as the Dutchman is on his second match point and could potentially clinch his second world title on Sunday. To do so, however, he will have to hold off the Ferraris of
Charles Leclerc and
Carlos Sainz.
Good starting point for Verstappen
Verstappen grabbed pole, but there was hardly any margin: just half a tenth separated the entire top three. Given the changing conditions, little is known about the drivers' race pace, but
Red Bull Racing has excelled on Sunday all season. Whether that will also be the case at the
Japanese Grand Prix will partly depend on the weather, as Friday's wet conditions caused some surprises in the timesheets.
Verstappen will have to fend off attacks from both
Ferrari drivers, but in that, his teammate
Sergio Perez will also have an important role to play. The Mexican starts from P4 and will be keen to make things difficult for the Ferraris. What Mercedes can do from P6 and P8 will possibly also depend on the weather, with
Lewis Hamilton and
George Russell still setting the tone at the wet
Suzuka Circuit on Friday.