Kimi Antonelli clinched pole position for the second race in a row with a sublime performance in Japan.
The Italian, 19, came home nearly three tenths ahead of teammate George Russell, with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc locking out the second row.
Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
But it was a dismal qualifying session for four-time world champion Max Verstappen as he missed out on Q3 and labelled his Red Bull “undriveable” after placing 11th.
He said: “The car never turns mid corner, but at the same time this weekend, it’s just oversteering a lot on entry. It’s really difficult, unpredictable.
“We thought we’d fixed it a little bit in FP3, I mean there was still a lot of understeer in the car, but now in qualifying for me it was again undriveable, so that’s something that we need to look at.
“Also, I’m driving with a different aero package this weekend, but it seems like that’s not working, so that’s not also very good.
“We have problems that I cannot explain in detail here, that we are know there, sometimes a bit worse than other times, and I think in qualifying it just came back to a point where it became undriveable.”
Despite his fourth place, Leclerc was similarly raging as he took aim at the FIA’s new regulations.
He said: “I honestly can’t stand qualifying, it’s a f***ing joke!
“I go faster in corners, throttle earlier, for f***’s sake, I’m losing everything in the straight!”
Williams’ Alex Albon also had some words of frustration for his team over the radio, saying: “Three races telling you something’s wrong — but sure, it’s just my driving style.”
Reigning world champion Lando Norris will start fifth ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while rookie Arvid Lindblad made it through to Q3 for the second time in three races.
Aussie Piastri, who is yet to complete a race lap this season, was upbeat after qualifying third as he bids to kickstart his season at Suzuka.
He said: “This weekend we have looked good and executed well.”
“We still don’t have the pace or grip to challenge Mercedes, but we are getting closer.”
