Max Verstappen stormed to a fifth consecutive pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix but was challenged closely by team-mate Sergio Perez in the process.
Perez lost time in the last sector of his lap which cost him a shot at the top spot and left Verstappen to take his 36th pole in Formula 1 by a margin of just 0.066 seconds - he did however claim a slice of history with his first front row slow at Suzuka.
Lando Norris proved that McLaren have the pace to compete for a podium this weekend with third place - two tenths ahead of 2024 race winner Carlos Sainz in fourth.
Lewis Hamilton was unable to extract further pace from his Mercedes car and will line up in seventh place, sharing an all-2025 Ferrari fourth row with Charles Leclerc in eighth - but at least outqualified George Russell for the first time this year.
Home favourite Yuki Tsunoda was unable to lift himself from tenth but did put in a sensational lap during Q2 to make the final qualifying session in the first place.