Max Verstappen has achieved an incredible pole position in the Japanese F1 GP, demonstrating once again that he is the best driver on the grid. The Red Bull is not among the best cars on the grid, but Max Verstappen is unique, and he achieved a perfect final lap to beat Lando Norris in Q3, only by three tenths of a second. The New Zealander’s celebration says it all, exhausted after achieving a new feat.
Red Bull leads the qualifying again
With this pole position for Max Verstappen, Red Bull has achieved a pole position again during a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The last one was achieved in the Australian GP last season, and they did not expect them to be back up there again, at least under normal dry circumstances. However, Yuki Tsunoda will start from fifteenth place, well below expectations, and behind Lawson, who will start ahead of the Japanese driver.
The big losers have been McLaren, who were counting not only on pole position, but also on having both their drivers on the front row. Norris will start from second position and Piatri from third.
Behind them will be Charles Leclerc, who takes a step forward with Ferrari, and behind them will be the two Mercedes, Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas. Isack Hadjar will start from seventh position, ahead of Lewis Hamilton who still does not feel comfortable with Ferrari (despite the victory in the sprint in China). Alexander Albon and Oliver Bearman close the top ten on the starting grid.
Carlos Sainz and Alonso in search of points
Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso will start behind Pierre Gasly and an intense fight is expected to finish in the points. The Spanish drivers, each for their own reasons, stayed close to the top 10, but they will have to prove themselves by being the best of the rest.
This is how the classification and starting grid for the Japanese F1 GP looks
- Verstappen
- Norris
- Piastri
- Leclerc
- Russell
- Antonelli
- Hadjar
- Hamilton
- Albon
- Bearman
- Gasly
- Sainz
- Alonso
- Lawson
- Tsunoda
- Hülkenberg
- Bortoleto
- Ocon
- Doohan
- Stroll