JAPANESE GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING REVIEW

For the first time in three years, the infamous Suzuka Circuit once again played host to an exciting qualifying  session, setting the grid ahead of tomorrow’s Japanese Grand Prix.  

AUTO ACTION’s Reese Mautone takes a look at how the session played out. 

Qualifying 1: 

• Nicholas Latifi accompanied by both Alpha Tauri drivers were the first on track, all on soft tyres. • On their opening timed laps, the Red Bulls respectively set purple sectors in Sector 1 and 3, while the  Ferraris proved strongest in the middle sector. 
• Midway through the 18-minute session, all cars set their first timed lap, with Max Verstappen setting the  fastest time of 1:30.224. 
• Pierre Gasly complained of brake issues, a problem which wasn’t resolved, costing him a place in Q2. His  teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, suffered a big lock-up and was advised to focus on straight-line braking.  • Mercedes began their qualifying campaign on medium tyres, before opting for the quicker soft tyre. The  Mercedes duo finished Q1 in P7 and P11. 
• Despite difficulties, Tsunoda made it into Q2 at his first home Grand Prix. 
• Local fan favourite Sebastian Vettel made it into Q2 at his final Japanese Grand Prix weekend by a slim  0.055 seconds.  

Knocked out: 

16. Alex Albon 
17. Pierre Gasly 
18. Kevin Magnussen 
19. Lance Stroll 
20. Nicholas Latifi 

Leclerc was edged out by Verstappen to start the Japanese GP in P2

Qualifying 2: 

• Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were eager to get out, leaving their garages as soon as the light went  green on used soft tyres. 
• On his opening Q2 lap, Sainz put in a time of 1:30.444, slower than his fastest time in Q1. • The remainder of the grid followed suit with 10 minutes to go, emerging onto the now sunny track, all on  the soft compound tyres. 
• Verstappen beat out both Ferraris with an opening timed lap of 1:30.346, just 0.098 seconds faster than  Sainz. 
• Lando Norris put in a purple first sector in his Mclaren, going P5 on his first run. The Mclaren continued to  impress in Q2 as Ricciardo alike got his car into P5, however, the Australian fell short in his final runs,  eventually being knocked out by 0.003 seconds. 
• Both Alpines remained steadily in the Top 10, with Fernando Alonso finishing Q2 with the second fastest  time, and Esteban Ocon in P4. 
• Tsunoda and Mick Schumacher tussled while exiting the pit lane, followed by more games heading into the  130R corner before their last runs, frustrating the pair of them.  
• On his final flying run, Sergio Perez lit up the timing sheets, putting in three purple sectors for the fastest  time of 1:29.925. 

Knocked out: 

11. Daniel Ricciardo 
12. Valtteri Bottas 
13. Yuki Tsunoda
14. Zhou Guanyu 
15. Mick Schumacher 

Ocon took an impressive P5, whilst Norris finished in P10 after scraping through to Q3 over his teammate by one one-thousandth of a second

Qualifying 3: 

• The Ferraris exchanged fastest sectors with the Red Bulls on their first flying lap attempts, as Verstappen  took provisional pole with a time of 1:29.304 ahead of Leclerc and Sainz respectively. • Out-lap shenanigans continued into Q3 when a slow-moving Verstappen in 130R lost control of the rear of  his Red Bull, leaving Norris to take evasive action on the grass. The incident was investigated after the  session and Verstappen was given a reprimand, not impacting the starting order. 
• All drivers retreated to their garages. With 2 minutes to go, the remaining cars began completing their final  runs, bar Vettel. 
• Leclerc, Sainz and Perez all failed to improve their positions.  
• Max Verstappen, despite not improving on his final run either, claimed pole position at Honda’s home race  with a lap time of 1:29.304. Verstappen is seeking to claim his second world championship title tomorrow,  and will do so if he manages to win, and earn the fastest lap.  
• Leclerc will line up alongside Verstappen after qualifying 0.010 seconds behind him, while Carlos Sainz  who was just 0.054 seconds off pole, and Sergio Perez will make up the second row. 

Top 10: 

1. Max Verstappen (1:29.304) 
2. Charles Leclerc 
3. Carlos Sainz 
4. Sergio Perez 
5. Esteban Ocon 
6. Lewis Hamilton 
7. Fernando Alonso 
8. George Russell 
9. Sebastian Vettel 
10. Lando Norris 

With the chance of rain present and the potential for a Champion to be crowned, the Japanese Grand Prix is  set to be an exciting race, scheduled to take place at 2:00 pm in Japan on Sunday (4:00 pm AEST).