This is the provisional starting grid for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen will start the Japanese Grand Prix from pole position. The Dutchman narrowly beat teammate Sergio Perez for P1 in qualifying. View the provisional starting grid for the Japan GP here.

Verstappen was the fastest man in qualifying. Red Bull Racing looked very good anyway, as Perez also gets to start from the front row of the grid. Lando Norris surprisingly starts from P3. McLaren did not look very good in the earlier sessions this weekend, but Norris and Oscar Piastri drove a good qualifying session. Norris starts from P3, Piastri from P6.

Carlos Sainz also made a good impression on Saturday. For the third time this season, he outclassed teammate Charles Leclerc. The Spaniard will start Sunday's race from P4, while Leclerc will have to start a catch-up race from P8. Fernando Alonso starts from fifth place, ahead of the Mercedes drivers. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell start from P7 and P9 respectively.

It was especially a great day for Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver drove himself into Q3 in front of his home crowd, at the expense of teammate Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian came very close this time, but still returned to the pit box disappointed after the fourth defeat in a row in qualifying.

The provisional grid for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix