Max Verstappen takes shock pole as Japan Grand Prix qualification is hit by trackside fire disruptions

QUALIFYING for the Japan Grand Prix was clouded by smoke from trackside fires causing red flag chaos throughout the session.

Suzuka Circuit looked more like a wildfire than a race track as grass fires broke out throughout qualification and practice.

Saturday morning's practice was hit by two red flag delays from the wildfires, while the qualifying itself saw another two fires cause chaos.

Sparks flying from the cars were blowing in the air and landing on dry grass and causing it to set alight.

Williams chief James Vowles hit out at the FIA to fix the issues ahead of qualifying – after attempts to water and trim it on Friday proved ineffective.

Vowles said: “I think it’s hampered all of us really.

“It’s just when you get into the flow, you need a couple of laps on the softs to get it right. And we just didn’t get that nor did anyone else for that matter.”;

So definitely, we spoke to the FIA at the end of that one [FP3],”; he added. “No one wants these, and it’s the same for everyone. That’s the best way I can put it.

“So it’s down to us to make sure that we don’t get caught out by it.”

Adding: “They’ve tried wetting the turf, but I think they have to look at other measures before qualifying.”

Despite the FIA claiming they would throw “all available time and resources” into sorting the issue before qualifying, it still proved.

In between the disruptions, drivers were still able to put some laps together.

Max Verstappen put together a blistering final lap out of nowhere to take pole for Sunday's race for the fourth time in a row – setting a new track lap record of 1.26.983.

While McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were right behind in second and third.

Verstappen said: “Yeah, I am [surprised]. Each session we kept making little improvements. Then the last lap was just flat out.

“In a Formula 1 car around here is insane. This is a proper highlight for us to be back on pole here.”

Meanwhile Charles Leclerc was behind in fourth, and Mercedes pair George Russell and Kimi Antonelli took fifth and sixth.

Brit Lewis Hamilton trailed Isack Hadjar in eighth and rising star Oliver Bearman pushed his Haas car to the limit with a 10th placed finish.

After a controversial week at Red Bull, Liam Lawson managed to advance to Q2 for the first time this season and even finished one place ahead of replacement Yuki Tsunoda.