In Suzuka on Saturday, the 26-year-old Dutchman in the Red Bull won in 1:29.563 minutes, 0.269 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez from Mexico. Briton George Russell took third place in a Mercedes, 0.355 seconds behind.
On Friday, the wet track prevented a regular second training session, but shortly before qualifying on Saturday, dry conditions prevailed again in sunshine.
Before the fourth round of the season on Sunday (7 a.m./Sky), Verstappen leads the championship standings with 51 points, just ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc (47) and Pérz (46). Verstappen did not finish in the last race in Australia due to a technical defect, but is once again the big favorite in Japan. He had won the Grand Prix in each of the past two years.
