Title-chasing Verstappen fastest in final Japanese GP practice / Photo: © AFP
-
Not-so-brave new world: virtual taekwondo makes Asian Games debut
-
Browns snuff out Rodgers fightback to beat Steelers 27-24
-
Arab Israeli candidate drops out of election race
-
Braves power past Phillies to set up Dodgers showdown
-
Israel courts Europe's far right, finding friends but also unease
-
Asian stocks drop as oil spike fans rate hike bets, eyes on US jobs
-
Lula, Bolsonaro both snub final debate before Brazil election
-
Viral anti-vax posts weaponise Philippine inoculation fears
-
Nepal's grim DNA puzzle to identify flood dead
-
Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of drone attack on Medina
-
EU nations to hold emergency meeting on soaring diesel prices amid US pressure
-
Effective Altruism: the philosophy behind Silicon Valley's AI fears
-
Anthropic's Dario Amodei: AI's most visible CEO and enigma
-
Chinese judoka accused of biting as home hope wins Asian Games gold
-
OpenAI says three staffers fired for mishandling 'sensitive' info
-
Four-member crew docks at International Space Station
-
Nike plans job cuts as it forecasts lower sales
-
Portugal win without Ronaldo as Klopp's Germany get first victory
-
Ireland game interrupted twice by Gaza protests
-
Wemby: 'Very sad' to see players endorse betting firms
-
Judge denies acquittal bid by US woman who killed her kids
-
Manchester City Women scrape draw with Real Madrid
-
Klopp averts crisis with first win as Germany boss
-
India, Australia and Pakistan in same World Cup group
-
A saintly spat and debate snub: Brazil enters final campaign stretch
-
Daryz's hopes of repeat Arc win boosted by draw
-
US tells European allies to act 'immediately' to lower diesel prices
-
Steelers ship disgruntled defender Porter to Cowboys
-
G20 trade ministers fail to see consensus against overproduction
-
Klopp gets first win as Germany boss
-
Portugal edge Denmark in Ronaldo's absence
-
Bolivia's attorney general arrested on drugs, money laundering charges
-
US stocks edge higher as bond yields retreat for now
-
Raiders host Chiefs in battle of unbeaten division rivals
-
US tells European allies to 'immediately' act to lower diesel prices
-
Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs Announces Launch of More Than 400 ATMs Nationwide
-
Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' if linked to flydubai attack
-
G20 against 'weaponization' of food trade: French minister
-
Williams leaves Spain camp with thigh knock
-
Female US inmate in critical condition after botched execution
-
WTA reduces 2027 schedule for world's top 50
-
Spotlight on UK-UAE ties amid Manchester City scandal
-
US says 'in Europe's best interest' to cooperate on fuel supply
-
Ethiopia and Eritrea break diplomatic ties over conflict
-
Rogue OpenAI agents covered up their tracks, report says
-
Downing Street says Manchester City not 'above the rules'
-
A saintly spat and debate snub: Brazil enters final polls stretch
-
Hadjar wants to 'fight for the title' from next season
-
Zidane 'no regrets' about Materazzi headbutt as France face Italy again
-
Bolivia's attorney general arrested for alleged drug trafficking, money laundering
Title-chasing Verstappen fastest in final Japanese GP practice
Runaway championship leader Max Verstappen went quickest in Saturday's final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix as he attempts to clinch his second straight world title this weekend in Suzuka.
The Red Bull driver blazed round the track in dry conditions with a fastest lap of 1min 30.671sec, 0.294sec clear of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.
Verstappen can clinch the title on Sunday if he wins the race with the fastest lap, no matter what his rivals do.
The Dutchman will also retain his crown if he wins and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, his nearest challenger, is third or lower.
Steady rain put the dampeners on Friday's practice, with Verstappen pushed back into third in the second session by Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
But he made his presence felt in Saturday's final practice, changing to soft tyres late in the session to reel off the fastest lap.
Sainz followed him with a quickest time of 1min 30.965sec, ahead of Ferrari teammate Leclerc on 1min 30.980.
The dry conditions are expected to continue for qualifying later Saturday but some showers are forecast for Sunday.
Alpine's Fernando Alonso, who was quickest in the first practice, was fourth.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez was fifth ahead of Russell, who almost crashed into the back of AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly late in the session.
Haas driver Mick Schumacher took part in the final practice after missing Friday's second session following an earlier crash that wrecked his chassis.
P.Anderson--BTB