Verstappen takes pole position at Japanese Grand Prix

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has taken pole position for a third straight year at the Japanese Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez qualifying second to ensure a Red Bull front-row lockout.

McLaren's Lando Norris will start Sunday's race in third place.

Verstappen, who will be looking for a third straight victory in Japan on Sunday, becomes the first driver to take pole in the opening four races of a season since Lewis Hamilton nine years ago.

"It was very close in the end, nevertheless most importantly to be on pole - of course you want every lap to be perfect, but at a track like this it isn't always the case," the Dutchman said after setting the pace with a lap of one minute 28.197 seconds on Saturday.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who won the Australian GP, qualified in fourth, with his teammate Charles Leclerc frustrated by a difficult drive that will see him start back in eighth on Sunday.

"That's the best I can do. Honestly, I don't get it" Leclerc said over the team radio.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fifth, and McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday on Saturday, was sixth.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, both of Mercedes, finished in seventh and ninth, with local hero Yuki Tsunoda getting one of the biggest cheers of the day by sneaking into the final round of qualifying to secure 10th place.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo will start from 11th spot on the grid on Sunday.