Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull career got off to a difficult start on Saturday, with the Japanese driver failing to put his car into the final qualifying stage for Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix.
It wasn't all bad news for Honda-powered Red Bull, however, as Max Verstappen edged out the McLarens for a surprise pole in a track record 1 minute, 26.983 seconds. It was a sensational lap for the Dutch superstar, with the McLarens thought to be well ahead of the pace of the rest of the field heading into qualifying.
Tsunoda will start back in 14th at Suzuka Circuit on Sunday after a scruffy lap in the second qualifying stage left him well off the pace needed to reach the top 10 shootout for pole. Tsunoda qualified 15th but was moved up a spot after Williams driver Carlos Sainz was handed a three-place grid penalty.
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