Max Verstappen starts from pole for the Japanese Grand Prix after a stunning qualifying display at Suzuka. The Red Bull driver is joined on the front row by McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri, with the Australian's teammate Lando Norris third and Sergio Perez fourth in the second RB19. The Ferrari and Mercedes drivers follow two-by-two in an intriguing grid for race day and, as ever, so much will hinge on the various strategy calls that will be made by each team.
Hot weather has led to high tyre degradation across the weekend so far with the threat of a three-stop race hanging over the grid ahead of lights out. But F1's tyre supplier Pirelli has indicated a two-stop will likely be the way to go, with three variations of the strategy offered by the Italian manufacturer. Drivers could start on Soft tyres and pit between laps 13 and 19, before finishing the race on two sets of Hard tyres - pitting between laps 31 and 37. Alternatively, the final stint could use the Soft tyres, though this would require a prolonged second stint on the Hard tyres to reach a pit window between laps 36 and 41. Medium tyres could add variation on the starting grid and see drivers pit between laps 14 and 20 before switching to the Hard tyres for the second stint, pitting between laps 37 and 43 for a final sprint on Softs. But the more adventurous of strategy teams could try and make a one-stop strategy work, with Pirelli indicating a first sting on Softs needing to be stretched out to around lap 18 to 25. Who will play a strategic masterclass? Red Bull holds the cards from pole.
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