<p>Runaway championship leader Max Verstappen took pole position on Saturday for the Japanese Grand Prix as he attempts to clinch his second straight world title this weekend in Suzuka.</p>.<p>The Red Bull driver topped the timesheets in dry conditions with a time of 1min 29.304, just 0.010 secs ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, his nearest championship rival. Carlos Sainz was third in the other Ferrari.</p>.<p>But Verstappen could find himself in hot water after stewards said they would investigate an incident involving the Dutchman and McLaren's Lando Norris.</p>.<p>Norris was forced onto the grass to avoid hitting Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver muttering "unbelievable" over his team radio but later apologising.</p>.<p>Verstappen can clinch the title on Sunday if he wins the race with the fastest lap, no matter what his rivals do.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/motogp-commits-long-term-plan-to-india-first-race-likely-in-2023-1147024.html" target="_blank">MotoGP commits long-term plan to India, first race likely in 2023</a></strong></p>.<p>The Dutchman will also retain his crown if he wins and Leclerc is third or lower.</p>.<p>"It was incredible to drive here again and of course very happy to be on pole, but just super happy to be back here," said Verstappen, whose car lost a chunk of bodywork on his last lap, after he ran wide on a section of the track.</p>.<p>"I lost a bit of my duct on that last lap which is why I didn't improve. Tomorrow will be interesting with the weather."</p>.<p>Showers are forecast for Sunday.</p>.<p>"It's a very tricky lap around here, I lost the tyres in the last section so lost some time," said Leclerc after just losing out on pole.</p>.<p>"We'll try and have a good race, we have a very limited amount of data so that's always a challenge. Let's wait and see the conditions -- should be a fun race."</p>.<p>Sergio Perez, in the other Red Bull, was fourth.</p>.<p>AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly failed to make it past Q1 after an issue with his brakes.</p>.<p>The Frenchman, who announced earlier in the day that he will replace two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at Alpine next season, was furious.</p>.<p>"I feel we could have managed this situation a bit better," Gasly told TV reporters.</p>
<p>Runaway championship leader Max Verstappen took pole position on Saturday for the Japanese Grand Prix as he attempts to clinch his second straight world title this weekend in Suzuka.</p>.<p>The Red Bull driver topped the timesheets in dry conditions with a time of 1min 29.304, just 0.010 secs ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, his nearest championship rival. Carlos Sainz was third in the other Ferrari.</p>.<p>But Verstappen could find himself in hot water after stewards said they would investigate an incident involving the Dutchman and McLaren's Lando Norris.</p>.<p>Norris was forced onto the grass to avoid hitting Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver muttering "unbelievable" over his team radio but later apologising.</p>.<p>Verstappen can clinch the title on Sunday if he wins the race with the fastest lap, no matter what his rivals do.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/motogp-commits-long-term-plan-to-india-first-race-likely-in-2023-1147024.html" target="_blank">MotoGP commits long-term plan to India, first race likely in 2023</a></strong></p>.<p>The Dutchman will also retain his crown if he wins and Leclerc is third or lower.</p>.<p>"It was incredible to drive here again and of course very happy to be on pole, but just super happy to be back here," said Verstappen, whose car lost a chunk of bodywork on his last lap, after he ran wide on a section of the track.</p>.<p>"I lost a bit of my duct on that last lap which is why I didn't improve. Tomorrow will be interesting with the weather."</p>.<p>Showers are forecast for Sunday.</p>.<p>"It's a very tricky lap around here, I lost the tyres in the last section so lost some time," said Leclerc after just losing out on pole.</p>.<p>"We'll try and have a good race, we have a very limited amount of data so that's always a challenge. Let's wait and see the conditions -- should be a fun race."</p>.<p>Sergio Perez, in the other Red Bull, was fourth.</p>.<p>AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly failed to make it past Q1 after an issue with his brakes.</p>.<p>The Frenchman, who announced earlier in the day that he will replace two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at Alpine next season, was furious.</p>.<p>"I feel we could have managed this situation a bit better," Gasly told TV reporters.</p>