Max Verstappen in pole position for title charge at Japanese Grand Prix

Formula One world championship leader Max Verstappen put Red Bull on pole position for the potentially title-deciding Japanese Grand Prix.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, the 25-year-old Dutch driver's closest rival, joined him on the front row after Saturday's qualifying at Suzuka.

The stakes will be high on race day where Verstappen will be world champion for the second time if he beats Leclerc by eight points.

It was Verstappen’s fifth pole of the season. However, that has not been crucial for Verstappen, who has won 11 times this season — often starting from a non-pole position.

Verstappen finished first in qualifying on Saturday with a winning lap time of 1 minute, 29.304 seconds at Suzuka. He was followed by Leclerc, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

Max prevails in the closest qualifying of the season!Just 0.010s was the margin @Max33Verstappen had over Leclerc in P2