Ricciardo edges Verstappen but Red Bull are off the pace in Japan

Lewis Hamilton shattered the Suzuka track record, set by Michael Schumacher in 2006, to take pole position, with Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel third.

Ricciardo was fourth fastest with a 1:28.306 - a second slower than Hamilton's pole lap - but will start third because Bottas will take a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.

After winning last time out in Malaysia, Max Verstappen was 0.026 seconds slower than his team-mate and was fifth in the session, but will start on the second row alongside Ricciardo.

Championship leaders Mercedes appeared to have struggled in both Malaysia and Singapore before that, despite victory and second place for Hamilton, with Red Bull much closer to the absolute pace, but in Japan, have looked distinctly third best also behind Ferrari.