Formula One F1 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan - April 6, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after qualifying in pole position along with second placed Red Bull's Sergio Perez and third placed McLaren's Lando Norris REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
SUZUKA, Japan (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Max Verstappen took pole position for a third straight year at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, with Sergio Perez qualifying a close second to ensure a Red Bull front-row lockout.
Verstappen set the pace with a lap of one minute 28.197 seconds - 0.066 seconds clear of Perez - becoming the first driver to take pole in the opening four races of a season since Lewis Hamilton nine years ago.
