F1 2024 Japan Grand Prix LIVE: Race start time and schedule with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at front

While from the outside that would suggest Mercedes once again struggled with an underperforming car – like much of the past two years – Hamilton was in good spirits following Saturday’s qualifying.

Having lamented the gap to pole-sitter Max Verstappen over the team radio during the session, he had a more positive outlook in the aftermath.

“The car has been much nicer to drive this weekend… this is the nicest it has felt in three years,” he said. “I think we did a really good job over the last week, just the analysis we’ve done at the factory to get the car into a sweet spot.

1. Max Verstappen – 51 points

2. Charles Leclerc – 47 points

3. Sergio Perez – 46 points

4. Carlos Sainz – 40 points

5. Oscar Piastri – 28 points

6. Lando Norris – 27 points

7. George Russell – 18 points

8. Fernando Alonso – 16 points

9. Lance Stroll – 9 points

10. Lewis Hamilton – 8 points

11. Yuki Tsunoda – 6 points

12. Oliver Bearman – 6 points

13. Nico Hulkenberg – 3 points

14. Kevin Magnussen – 1 point

15. Alex Albon – 0 points

16. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

17. Daniel Ricciardo – 0 points

18. Esteban Ocon – 0 points

19. Pierre Gasly – 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

Charles Leclerc was in a state of bemusement prior to qualifying in Japan on Saturday, questioning his Ferrari team’s run-plan at the end of the final practice session.

Leclerc is four points off championship leader Max Verstappen heading into this weekend in Suzuka, following two podiums in the first three races.

Yet on early evidence, Ferrari cannot match the pace of Red Bull this weekend in Japan, with Leclerc unhappy at the Scuderia’s strategy at the end of the third practice session.

Leclerc failed to get a second “push lap” in at the end and was angry that his team kept him in the garage for too long at the end of the one-hour session.

“Honestly, I don’t get it,” Leclerc said over the team radio. “What are we doing to stay in the garage? Oh my god!”

1) Max Verstappen – 1:28:197

5) Fernando Alonso – +0.489

6) Oscar Piastri – +0.663

7) Lewis Hamilton – +0.669

8) Charles Leclerc – +0.689

9) George Russell – +0.811

Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.

The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.

His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.

Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan.

The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.

Good morning – hope you’re just getting out of bed! – and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka!

Max Verstappen is on pole for the fourth time in a row this season, with Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez alongside him on the front row.

Lando Norris starts third, with friend Carlos Sainz alongside him on the second row.

Can anyone stop the Red Bulls in Japan?! Lights out is at 6am (BST)!

Russell was released right into the path of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who had to steer left to avoid the Mercedes W15.

Piastri said over team radio: “Very dangerous from Russell.”

While from the outside that would suggest Mercedes once again struggled with an underperforming car – like much of the past two years – Hamilton was in good spirits following Saturday’s qualifying.

Having lamented the gap to pole-sitter Max Verstappen over the team radio during the session, he had a more positive outlook in the aftermath.

“The car has been much nicer to drive this weekend… this is the nicest it has felt in three years,” he said. “I think we did a really good job over the last week, just the analysis we’ve done at the factory to get the car into a sweet spot.