Formula 1 | Verstappen takes pole in Japan, Ferrari and Mercedes F1 disappoint

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Norris and McLaren position themselves as challengers to Red Bull

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After three free practice sessions which showed an aspect difficult to define, it is time for qualifying for the Japanese F1 Grand Prix, on the formidable Suzuka track. An exercise that is usually difficult, but which becomes even more delicate on this circuit.

If we look at what the two sessions gave in the dry, with each time a double from Red Bull dominated by Max Verstappen, the team from Milton Keynes seems favorite for pole position this Saturday.

Indeed, Ferrari and McLaren F1 seem a little further behind than expected, and it is Mercedes which seems to be doing well, since the Brackley team was the second force during FP3, while he We also had to count on Fernando Alonso in great form.

In the second part of the peloton, there are not many hopes of Q3, and the one who seems best equipped to get there is Yuki Tsunoda, who we saw in the top 10 throughout the weekend.

For other teams, the stakes will be elsewhere. We are thinking in particular of Williams and Alpine, who do not have spare chassis and whose drivers will have to be very careful during their fast laps.

The track temperature is 28 degrees, while the air temperature is 18 degrees. Despite a heavy cloud ceiling, no showers are forecast during the session when the light turns green. Hülkenberg saw his time canceled.

Q1 – 18 minutes

Kevin Magnussen was the first to attack the time, even though he was alone on the track. The Haas F1 driver set a time of 1’31″203, while his team seemed to be behind this morning. We know that the difficulties for Haas come from the performance over one lap.

Mercedes released its two drivers simultaneously into the pits, and George Russell pressed Oscar Piastri against the pit wall, which the Australian fortunately did not touch. An investigation for unsafe release could result.

Logan Sargeant did better than the Dane in 1’30″643, and Alex Albon did better in 1’30″3, before Sergio Pérez took the lead in 1’29″303. Max Verstappen hit hard immediately in 1’28″866. Charles Leclerc placed third, one second behind, and Carlos Sainz got in front of him.

Lewis Hamilton took the fourth fastest time, almost eight tenths behind Verstappen, and George Russell positioned himself just behind his teammate. Oscar Piastri set the third time, six tenths behind Verstappen, and Alonso took a good second time, 0.388 seconds behind Verstappen.

Yuki Tsunoda took the eighth provisional time, between Russell and Leclerc, while the Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, were provisionally 13th and 15th. Lando Norris took provisional sixth place.

The Williams drivers got out before the track got too crowded, and Albon improved to 1’29″963, which put him 11th. Sargeant also improved, but the 15th time still left him in danger.

Leclerc, only provisionally tenth, returned to the track, but his time in the first sector was not the most encouraging, while Gasly did better than him on this part of the circuit. The Monegasque did the best absolute second sector and finished with the fourth fastest time.

Gasly only set the 15th time, Magnussen the 16th, and Hülkenberg eliminated Gasly by setting the 11th time. Ocon took the tenth time, and Ricciardo set the ninth time. Tsunoda moved up from 12th place. Bottas set a good eighth time, while Zhou did not do better than 20th.

Those eliminated were Stroll, Gasly, Magnussen, Sargeant and Zhou.

Q2 – 15 minutes

Verstappen did not delay taking to the track at the start of the second part of qualifying. The Dutchman only needed one lap to get through Q1, and he obviously hopes to repeat for Q2.

Pérez set the first time of this Q2 in 1’28″752 with the first two absolute best sectors, but Verstappen beat him thanks to a better third sector, in 1’28″740. This is the first time Pérez has been so threatening this weekend.

Piastri took third fastest time, beaten by Alonso. Hamilton set the fifth time, one second behind Verstappen, and Norris placed third, two tenths behind Verstappen, thanks to a better first sector, since the McLaren MCL38 is very efficient in fast corners.

Russell placed only seventh, and Hülkenberg ninth. Ocon was provisionally placed tenth, and Ricciardo 11th. Leclerc set the sixth time, while Sainz placed fifth.

Hamilton improved significantly with the third time less than two tenths behind Verstappen. Russell was 4 tenths behind but was only seventh. Hülkenberg set the tenth fastest time, while Ocon only moved up to 11th.

Ricciardo also improved with the tenth time, and Albon took the provisional 12th time. Tsunoda also improved greatly with tenth place, and Bottas did no better than 13th. Tsunoda advanced to Q3 for the third time this season, and he did it in front of his home crowd!

Those eliminated were Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, Bottas, Albon and Ocon.

Q3 – 12 minutes

Hamilton set the first time of this Q3 with a 1’28″766, and Russell did not do better in 1’29″008. Verstappen set the best time in 1’28″240, while Pérez placed second, more than three tenths behind his teammate.

Alonso took the fourth provisional time between the two Mercedes, and Sainz positioned himself third. Piastri finished with the fourth fastest time, and Norris, with the best absolute first sector, placed second! Tsunoda took the ninth fastest time, quite logically, while Leclerc did not make a first attempt.

Leclerc shifted his strategy, having only one set of new soft tires, and he took to the track 6 minutes from the end of the session, while the other nine drivers returned to the pits after their first attempt. Provisionally seventh, Alonso admits reaching a limit: “I don’t see what I can do to go faster”.

Verstappen’s time definitely hurts the competition. Informed that he is half a second behind the Dutchman, Hamilton is cautious: “Where is that half-second?”

Leclerc once again set the second sector record, but Verstappen’s time is too far for the Monegasque and his Ferrari. Ultimately, he finished in seventh place, half a second behind Verstappen.

Leclerc is added to the list of drivers who express their disappointment on the radio: “I can’t do better. Honestly, I don’t understand.” This qualification definitely leaves its mark on the competition.

Pérez signs an excellent first sector, but Verstappen beats him by a tenth in this part of the circuit. Pérez signs the absolute best second sector and is ahead of Verstappen’s initial time.

But the Mexican misses in the last sector and fails 23 thousandths behind Verstappen, while the Dutchman improves to 1’28″197, with a gap of 66 thousandths between the two men.

Sainz does not do better than fourth, Tsunoda improves but remains tenth, while Alonso also progresses and is placed fifth. Norris does no better and remains third. Russell remains ninth.

Verstappen is therefore on pole ahead of Pérez, who is closer than he has ever been this year. Norris will be on the second row at the start, alongside Sainz. Alonso and Piastri will be on the third row ahead of future Ferrari teammates Hamilton and Leclerc, then Russell and Tsunoda.