Japanese Grand Prix – Qualifying: Max Verstappen’s pole creates a surprise

Q1:

Yuki Tsunoda was the driver to watch during this qualifying session. After four seasons with the Faenza-based team, the young Japanese driver has finally been promoted to Red Bull Racing. He benefits from this surprising promotion in terms of timing due to the poor results of his predecessor in the RB21, Liam Lawson. The exchange between the two drivers constitutes a form of backtracking for the Austrian team, which had chosen during the winter to promote the New Zealander and not the more experienced Japanese driver.

The mission of Yuki Tsunoda is simple on paper: he must be closer to Max Verstappen than Liam Lawson was. For his first lap in Q1, the objective was achieved. Only three tenths separated him from his team leader. An encouraging sign for his debut. Then, during their respective final attempts, only 20 thousandths separated the two drivers from each other.

Still within the Red Bull family, Isack Hadjar complained during this first qualifying session of problems in his cockpit. After brilliant free practice sessions, the young Parisian feared that an issue related to his seatbelts might prevent him from showing his real speed. On the radio, he repeatedly complained about the discomfort he felt in his single-seater: “I can’t concentrate.” Despite his cockpit issues, Isack Hadjar qualified in 13th position. His teammate Liam Lawson advanced to Q2 with a 20-thousandths-of-a-second lead over the elimination zone. It is the first time this season that the New Zealander has reached the second part of qualifying.

Oscar Piastri finished Q1 as the fastest man with a time of 1:27.687. He was followed by George Russell and Lando Norris.

The ones eliminated in Q1: Nico Hülkenberg (16th), Gabriel Bortoleto (17th), Esteban Ocon (18th), Jack Doohan (19th), and Lance Stroll (20th)

Q2:

First driver to take the track, Max Verstappen initially claimed the fastest lap before the Dutchman’s time was immediately beaten by Lando Norris. The British driver clocked a lap in 1:27.146. After his first attempt, Oscar Piastri had to settle for the fourth position on the timesheet, trailing more than four-tenths behind his garage neighbor. George Russell continued to impress by setting the second-fastest time of the session.

Once again this weekend, a red flag was caused by a burst of flames. All the cars were therefore ordered to return to the pit. However, to prevent any new fire during the free practice sessions and qualifications today, the FIA had implemented several concrete measures. First, the grass around the track was cut very short to limit the amount of potential fuel, then the most exposed areas were cleaned to remove any dry residue. Once the mini-fire was controlled by the track marshals, the drivers were able to return to the track.

Ferrari are still not in the fight for pole position in Japan. At one point 6th and 7th during Q2, the red cars have been lagging behind McLaren, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, and George Russell’s Mercedes throughout the weekend. Both Ferrari drivers improved their times on their second laps, but it remained relatively far from Lando Norris’s time. Charles Leclerc clocked a 1:27.600. Lewis Hamilton was trailing very closely. Both teammates notably lost a lot of time in the first sector.

Despite a very promising Q1, Yuki Tsunoda could not do better than 15th position. Speaking to Canal+, the Japanese driver admitted he wasn’t able to piece together his final lap. This low position on the grid seriously diminishes his hopes of a podium at home. Yuki Tsunoda also had the unpleasant surprise of being beaten by Liam Lawson. The latter will start just ahead of his replacement, in 14th position.

Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar created a feat by qualifying for Q3.

The eliminated in Q2: Pierre Gasly (11th), Carlos Sainz (12th), Fernando Alonso (13th), Liam Lawson (14th), and Yuki Tsunoda (15th)

Q3:

While no one would have bet on Max Verstappen securing pole position, the Dutchman surprised everyone by claiming the best lap at the end of qualifying. This achievement is even more surprising when looking at his lap in detail. He did not set any sector records, with Lando Norris being the fastest man in S1 and Oscar Piastri in S2 and S3. This feat demonstrates the strength of Verstappen and his team, who always manage to gradually build their weekend and optimize the potential of their machine.

Lando Norris, who had managed to go faster than his teammate, has to settle for 2nd position. Behind the two McLarens, Charles Leclerc will start in fourth position on the starting grid. The one who will be disappointed is George Russell. The British driver made a small mistake in the Suzuka esses that cost him time.

Results table: