Provisional Starting Grid GP Japan | Verstappen on pole, one grid penalty awarded

Updated: 17:18, 05 Apr 2025

A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.

Max Verstappen pipped McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to pole for the Japanese Grand Prix. This is how the starting grid looks in Japan so far.

Carlos Sainz received a three-place penalty. After the Spaniard put his car in P12 during qualifying, he will start from P15 on Sunday at Suzuka.

Sainz received a grid penalty for this reason

Sainz had a moment with Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton in the first corner of the circuit during qualifying, which according to the stewards, amounted to impeding byt the former Ferrari driver on the seven-time world champion, incurring a three-place grip drop for the Grand Prix, as is the case with these offences.

At 07:00 UK time, on Sunday morning, the red lights will go out and the drivers will start the Japanese Grand Prix. While the four-time world champion will start from pole, the McLaren duo will be hot on his heels to try and wrestle the lead from him.

The race and all the developments around it can be followed via GPblog.

Provisional starting grid for GP Japan with Verstappen on pole position

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Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	156
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	115
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	106
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	73
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	70
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	55
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	37
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	32
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	28
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	19
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	14
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Provisional Starting Grid GP Japan | Verstappen on pole, one grid penalty awarded

Sainz received a grid penalty for this reason

Provisional starting grid for GP Japan with Verstappen on pole position

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