F1: Max Verstappen on pole in Japan

BET À DAY

This time, we're there: starting from pole position on Sunday in Japan, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) has a good chance of winning a second consecutive world championship title in Formula 1. 

A victory and the point for the best lap in the race: this is the ideal scenario that would ensure the coronation for the Dutchman. He beat Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) by just 1/100th of a second and will start ahead of the Monegasque on the front row on Sunday.

 “I don't really think (about the title), I take things like they come,” said Verstappen, 25 and a week, for whom “the important thing is to have a competitive car and that is clearly the case”. 

Other results can also see him crowned, depending on the performance of his two pursuers in the championship: he must take eight points more than Leclerc and six more than his teammate at Red Bull, Sergio Pérez, behind for the moment. 104 and 106 points respectively.

“Of course, very happy to be on pole, but also super happy to be back here,” reacted Verstappen. He signed his first pole at Suzuka, the 5th this season and the 18th of his career.

Japan will be treated to a sold-out race, with 90,000 fans, for its first Grand Prix since 2019, after two seasons away due to the pandemic. In total since Friday, 190,000 spectators will have attended the event.

Penalty avoided

Verstappen almost lost his pole for hindering Lando Norris ( McLaren) in the last part of qualifying (Q3), due to an uncontrolled movement which forced the Briton to leave the track slightly to avoid it.

But the race direction finally decided that it was not worth a penalty, just a reprimand.

“I was driving quite slowly, I wanted to accelerate but my tires were a little cold, so I had a complicated time. And of course Lando was trying to pass me at the same time, so he had to avoid me slightly. But luckily nothing happened,” Verstappen played down.

According to Norris, it is “pretty clear” on the other hand that Verstappen tried to prevent him from passing him.

“He would have done the same thing if he had been in my situation, but I don't would not have made a move towards him if I had been in his situation”, he continued for Sky F1, believing that Verstappen “obviously” deserved a penalty.

Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Pérez will start on the second row on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. local time, followed by Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).

In front of his home crowd, the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda will start in 13th place.

< p>Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), who will retire at the end of the year, took advantage of his qualification in 9th place to greet the public at his favorite circuit: “Arigato gozaimasu (thank you very much in Japanese), this place will miss me,” said the German with four world titles between 2010 and 2013, who won four times here.

Possible rain on Sunday

After insignificant rainy first free practice on Friday, dominated by Fernando Alonso (Alpine) then George Russell (Mercedes), Verstappen set the record straight on Saturday on a dry track.

“Mad Max” l announced on Friday evening: “Everything starts from zero in the dry”. The teams knew that qualifying conditions were going to be different, with no rush on the 5.807 km circuit considered one of the most technical on the calendar.

On the only track that features a figure-8 configuration, with one section passing under another, Verstappen took the lead. 

But wet testing could matter: forecasts show 40% chance of rain from the start of the race, and up to 80% chance at the end of the race.

“The rain could offer opportunities”, underlined Hamilton, who fears that the race is “not the most thrilling if the weather is dry”.

Frenchman Pierre Gasly was the other attraction in the paddock this Saturday despite his distant 17th time: the AlphaTauri driver signed for several years with Alpine from 2023. 

Within the team French, Gasly will join his compatriot and former karting companion, Esteban Ocon. 

Starting grid 

1st row:

< p>1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

2. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

2nd row:

3.Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari)

4. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull)

3rd row:

5. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)

6. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

4th row:

7. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault)

8. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

5th row:

9. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes)

10. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)

6th row:

11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)

12. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo)

7th row:

13. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)

14. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo)

8th line:

15. Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari)

16. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)

9th line:

17. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)

18. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)

10th row:

19. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)

20. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes)