F1 Japanese Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more

The Red Bull driver provisionally secured his fifth F1 pole of the season by beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.01s in the final stage of qualifying, but had to face the FIA stewards after an incident earlier in the session with Lando Norris.

Verstappen, who was driving slowly preparing for his first Q3 lap, almost collided with Norris who was behind him and had to go on to the grass. The stewards gave the Dutch driver a reprimand but allowed him to keep pole.

It means Verstappen is in prime position to seal his second F1 world drivers’ title this weekend, knowing victory and the fastest lap will clinch the championship.

With Leclerc second, he pushed Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz into third place, while outside title contender Sergio Perez qualified in fourth.

Verstappen holds a 104-point lead over Leclerc at the top of the F1 standings with five races to go, while Red Bull team-mate Perez remains in contention 106 points off the Dutch driver after his victory in Singapore.

In short, Verstappen needs to be 112 points clear at the end of the Japanese GP to clinch the title with four races to spare. Therefore, Verstappen must outscore Leclerc by eight points and Perez by six points to take the title in Japan.

Here’s how Verstappen can seal the F1 world title at the Japanese GP:

• If Verstappen wins and sets the fastest lap, he is champion
• If Verstappen wins without the fastest lap and Leclerc finishes lower than second
• If Verstappen finishes second, Leclerc finishes fifth without the fastest lap or sixth with the fastest lap or lower, Perez finishes fifth or lower
• If Verstappen finishes third with the fastest lap, Leclerc finishes sixth or lower and Perez finishes fifth or lower
• If Verstappen finishes third without the fastest lap, Leclerc finishes seventh or lower and Perez finishes fifth or lower
• If Verstappen finishes fourth, Leclerc finishes eighth or lower or Perez finishes seventh without the fastest lap or lower
• If Verstappen finishes fifth, Leclerc finishes ninth or lower and Perez finishes eighth or lower
• If Verstappen finishes sixth, Leclerc finishes 11th or lower and Perez is ninth or lower

Any alternative results which don’t fit into these multiple scenarios, the title fight rolls on to the United States GP.

When is the F1 Japanese Grand Prix?

Date: Sunday 9th October 2022
Start time:…