Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen Escapes Penalty To Take Pole

 

Max Verstappen will be starting in pole position at the final of the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday but he managed to escape being penalized for nearly causing a collision with Lando Norris. 

The Red Bull driver pipped the Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to the pole by just 0.010 seconds quickest but would be faced with a deciding race at the final which could settle the F1 Championship title and he would need a perfect race to emerge as the champion for the second time in a row. 

For the reprimand given to Verstappen, he could have been served a penalty for that instead as Norris needed to swiftly avoid what could have been a collision between them in Q3 when the Red Bull driver dangerously darted left near the exit. 

While the Ferrari duo took the second and third position respectively, Sergio Perez will start in P4 for Red Bull, and Alpine's Estaban Ocon will be starting from P5 ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in P6.