Max Verstappen is ready for a fight with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after shocking the McLaren pair to claim pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix. The four-time world champion had been off the pace throughout the weekend as the dominant McLaren duo combined to top every session, including the first two parts of qualifying.

Helmut Marko has done a lot of talking in the last week. Red Bull’s octogenarian motorsport adviser has been busy doing the rounds, on the radio and in the papers, defending the team’s decision to jettison Liam Lawson after just two races and bring in Yuki Tsunoda.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has cruised to his maiden Chinese Grand Prix win from pole position with the Australian untouchable ahead of his teammate Lando Norris.