Max Verstappen after Suzuka sorry: “That was close!” / System 1

Red Bull Racing world champion Max Verstappen’s performance in final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix: The three-time Formula 1 champion secured his 36th place in the premier class at Suzuka, his third consecutive a traditional Japanese song. , his fifth in the Period (Abu Dhabi 2023, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Japan 2024).

For his Red Bull Racing team, it is 99th overall in Formula 1 and eighth in this race (four with Sebastian Vettel, one with Mark Webber, three with Max Verstappen).

The 56-time GP winner and World Championship leader said after his best time: “That was close. Here you have to be very careful with the tyres, you can’t afford to be too aggressive.”

“This time it was more difficult than usual, but it was enough for us to be in front with two cars and I am very happy for our team.”

Training began under a milky sky above the packed stations, all the tickets had been sold for months, the air was 18 degrees, the temperature of the track was 28 degrees. When the starting lights at the Suzuka Circuit turned green at 3 pm (8 am in Europe) , Kevin Magnussen had a song to himself;

With his fastest first lap, Max Verstappen left his Red Bull Racing team-mate Sergio Pérez half a second behind, then Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin moved between the two RBR racing cars, followed by Sainz, Hamilton, Russell and Leclerc in 8th place, Monegasque one second behind the leader Verstappen.

The first part of qualifying meant the end of Lance Stroll (16th), Pierre Gasly, Kevin Magnussen, Logan Sargeant and Guanyu Zhou.

Top ten after Q1: Verstappen is less than four tenths of a second ahead of Alonso, then Pérez, Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz, Norris, Bottas, Hamilton, Ricciardo.

Part 2 qualifying with two RBR racers in front, but this time Verstappen is only twelve thousandths of a second ahead of Pérez, then Norris, Alonso and Sainz. Mercedes is disappointing: Hamilton more than a second behind leader Verstappen, but the seven-time champion has used used tyres.

Nico Hülkenberg lost a fast lap: he was clearly too far from the track at turn 13. A blessing in disguise: This time, the German, like Hamilton, was on used Pirelli tires.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz complained on the radio about the accelerator pedal not feeling as it should. Maybe a problem with the return spring.

Very slow in the crucial phase of Q2 and therefore out: Daniel Ricciardo in eleventh, then Hülkenberg, Bottas, Albon and Ocon.

Entering the top ten of Verstappen, Pérez, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Sainz, Russell, Piastri, Leclerc and local hero Tsunoda; The Japanese Bulls driver is among the top ten fastest for the third time in a row.

In the crucial third part of qualifying, Tsunoda and Leclerc initially waited – they had only one set of Pirelli tires with red and smooth markings.

For the first shot Verstappen 249 thousandths ahead of Norris in McLaren, then Pérez, Sainz, Piastri, Hamilton, Alonso and Russell.

Six minutes before the end, Charles Leclerc had his own track: With his only new set of tires, the five-time GP winner climbed to 7th place, disappointed, not a clean lap, a lot of time lost in the final section. of slope. Charles on the radio: “I can’t get more out of it, I don’t understand.”

Pérez moved to within 66 thousandths of a second of Verstappen, but it wasn’t enough.

Qualification, Japan

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:28,197 minutes
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:28.263
03. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:28.489
04. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:28.682
05. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, 1:28.686
06. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:28.760
07. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:28,766
08. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:28,786
09. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:29,008
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, 1:29,413
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, 1:39.472
12. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, 1:29.494
13. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, 1:29.593
14. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:29,714
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:29,816
16. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:30,024
17. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:30,119
18. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:30.131
19. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, 1:30,139
20. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, 1:30,143