Talking points | Japanese qualifying: Vettel's emotional goodbye, Verstappen's 'vorsprung'

Max Verstappen secured pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. The race returns for the first time since 2019, and the Red Bull driver makes the return all the more memorable as the team's engine partner, Honda, returns home.

Verstappen secured the position ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen does what's needed

Friday's running had been heavily hampered by rain, but the weather gods smiled on the Suzuki Circuit on Saturday. Both the third practice session and qualifying took place in dry conditions, with Verstappen coming out on top.

In qualifying, it seemed as if the two Ferraris could threaten his and Red Bull's parade, but with the extra motivation of securing his second F1 Drivers' championship, Verstappen managed to do what was needed to start the race from the front. He cleared Leclerc by a mere 0.010 seconds and Sainz by 0.057sec.

"It was pretty incredible to drive here again, especially in qualifying on low fuel," Verstappen said after the session. "These cars really come alive in the first sector! Very happy to be on pole, but in general, just super happy to be back here!"

Verstappen has been called to the Race Stewards' office for dangerous driving. During Q3, the final part of qualifying, Verstappen veered into McLaren's Lando Norris' path, forcing the on-speed driver to take evasive action on the grass as he came around 130R. Verstappen apologised for his action, citing the cold tyres brought about the lapse in car control when he accelerated.

Verstappen explained: "We were all on our out-lap - all lining up to try and create a gap to everyone - and somehow he still wanted to get me into the chicane. I was at the point of accelerating, but I was on very cold tyres, so I had a