Verstappen, who can seal his second crown on Sunday at Suzuka by outscoring Leclerc by eight points, edged his rival by 0.010s but is being investigated after qualifying after inadvertently turning in on Lando Norris on their first Q3 out laps and nearly creating a huge collision.

Norris was speeding past at the high-speed 130R corner and had to take to the grass to avoid the swerving Red Bull driver warming up his tyres. Verstappen raised his hand to apologise, but will have to explain his case.

Both drivers are reporting to the stewards at 9am UK time.

• Final results from Japanese GP Qualifying
• Japanese GP: When to watch live on Sky Sports F1
• How Verstappen can be crowned world champion in Japan

The investigation, which could hand Leclerc pole, follows an ultra-competitive shootout, where Verstappen appeared the favourite throughout but was nearly beaten by the quicker-than-expected Ferraris.

But Leclerc finished agonisingly off Verstappen, with team-mate Carlos Sainz also within a tenth, and though Verstappen did not improve on his final lap he still took pole with a 1:29.304.

Sergio Perez was fourth in the other Red Bull while Esteban Ocon beat both Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton was the lead Silver Arrow in sixth, with George Russell only eighth as the team, down on top speed, failed to replicate their pace from Friday in the wet weather, which could be back for Sunday's race.

Norris, miffed about Verstappen's actions, was only 10th for McLaren, behind Sebastian Vettel on an emotional and impressive last appearance at his favourite track.

Japanese GP Qualifying Results
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull*
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
5) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
6) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
7) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8) George Russell, Mercedes
9) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
10) Lando Norris, McLaren
*under investigation after qualifying

Norris: Verstappen deserves penalty | Max: He should be more 'respectful'

Verstappen, in dominant form, appeared well on his way to pole throughout Saturday's shootout - quickest in Q1 and the start of Q2 - but the incident at the start of Q3 means his advantage is now in doubt.

Before the lap that would eventually give him pole, the Dutchman was driving slowly along the fastest section of track, warming up his tyres. Norris, though, took a different out-lap strategy and went to overtake Verstappen on the straight, before the Red Bull swerved left as he tried to accelerate on his cold tyres.

Norris had to take swift avoiding action onto the grass, and then had a slow first Q3 lap. Verstappen, meanwhile, posted the fastest lap of the day. He raised his hand to apologise to Norris on the in-lap, but stewards quickly stated that he was under investigation, and at risk of a penalty.

The F1 rules state that "at no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person."

"I mean it was quite clear he tried to [block me]," Norris told Sky Sports F1. "There's no rule on what you can do, but doing what he did is something that you cannot do.

"People always overtake before the last corner, as much as everyone agrees to it (gentleman's agreement), everyone always does it, so it doesn't matter, he probably would have done the same if he was in my situation, but I wouldn't have swerved at him if I was in his situation."

Verstappen, however, argued that Norris should have been more "respectful".

"We were on our out-lap and we were all lining up to try to create a gap to everyone, and somehow he still wanted to get me into the chicane," said Verstappen. "But I was at the point of acceleration, I was on very cold tyres so I had a little moment and that's why he had to drive around me.

"But if you're just a bit more respectful, then everyone is anyway already lining up. I don't think anyone is trying to pass into that last chicane, so basically by trying to pass me you create that kind of problem."

Christian Horner also cited a "gentleman's agreement" that drivers hold position at the end of their out laps, though Sky Sports F1's Jenson Button believes a penalty is incoming due to potentially dangerous driving.

"I don't think any of it was intention, when Lando says he turned left into me, I don't think he did," said Button, the 2009 world champion.

"He [Max] is not looking in his mirrors, he looks like he's got on the throttle to try and warm the tyres up and that's put him in a position that looks like he's moving over on Lando. Should he have done that? No.

"He's going too slow on the exit of a 200mph corner, so that's the issue that he has.

"None of it was intentional but the problem is that it could have been a massive incident and was very close to being a massive incident between the two cars."

The other qualifying stories and final timesheet

Red Bull and Ferrari were in a league of their own on Saturday - while Mercedes were locked in a battle behind with McLaren and Alpine.

Lacking straight-line speed in a car they surely can't wait to see the back of, Hamilton and Russell had to put their all into just making it into Q3 and in the end could only manage sixth and eighth.

They were beaten by Ocon and sandwiched by the other impressive Alpine of Fernando Alonso.

Vettel was another standout from the shootout, making it to Q3 while Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll was eliminated in Q3, while one of the big disappointments came down at AlphaTauri.

Pierre Gasly, who earlier in the Suzuka morning was finally confirmed as an Alpine driver for 2023, only qualified 17th.

Watch Max Verstappen bid to seal his second world championship live on Sky Sports F1 on Sunday. The Japanese GP starts at 6pm, with build-up from 4.30am.