(Suzuka) The flawless qualifying continues for Max Verstappen: at the wheel of his Red Bull single-seater, the Dutchman has won four leading positions in as many possibilities this season after the one narrowly obtained on Saturday at Suzuka, Japan.
The three-time Formula 1 world champion signed the 36e top position of his career and the fifth in a row including the one achieved in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2023.
Two weeks after his unexpected retirement in Australia, the first in two years, Verstappen confirmed that he would be difficult to beat this weekend on a circuit that he really likes and where he has two successes.
However, while he was more than half a second ahead of his first pursuer during the last edition contested last fall, the 26-year-old Dutchman had to work hard to take first place. on the grid on Saturday because he ultimately only beat his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez by 66 thousandths.
“In the end it was very tight on this circuit which is very sensitive for the tires. The important thing is to be in the lead position so it’s a very good day because we are in an ideal position for tomorrow. It’s good for the team to be first and second and I hope we can keep these positions tomorrow [dimanche] in the race,” Verstappen said.
Pérez, comfortable since the start of the weekend, gave his brilliant teammate a hard time and was even ahead of his time during the last intermediate of his final lap.
With his second place, the Mexican achieved his best qualifying result at Suzuka in 11 appearances. The vice-world champion had not obtained a place on the front row since the end of last July and the Belgian Grand Prix.
PHOTO PHILIP FONG, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
From left to right: Sergio Pérez, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris
“The conditions here are always complicated, it’s very easy to lose one or two tenths so it’s difficult to achieve a perfect lap. It really didn’t go far today, I’m very close to Max. We made good progress this weekend and I am in a good position for the race,” underlined Pérez.
Ferrari in retreat
Like two weeks ago in Melbourne, the Briton Lando Norris took third place and confirmed the ease of the McLarens on the fast tracks.
“I’m happy because we are only two tenths from the top position whereas we were five last year so we have progressed. I think we have the pace to keep this place tomorrow [dimanche] », Estimated the Briton, who finished second at Suzuka last year.
The Spaniard Carlos Sainz, surprise winner in Australia after taking advantage of Verstappen’s retirement, set the fourth time and limited the damage for Ferrari, a little behind this weekend, like the mediocre eighth Place du Monegasque Charles Leclerc.
“Qualifying wasn’t very good overall. But we know that we can have a good pace in the race so I believe that we can be in the fight and grab a few places to obtain a good result,” hoped Fred Vasseur, the French boss of the Scuderia.
At Aston Martin, it’s once again “two rooms, two atmospheres” since the Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso took a good fifth place, while his Canadian teammate Lance Stroll, still disappointing, did not do better than 16e.
PHOTO ISSEI KATO, REUTERS
Lance Stroll will start from 16e position.
Mercedes also disappointed on Saturday since the British Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will start from the seventh and ninth rows respectively, just in front of the local Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), who delighted his thousands of Japanese fans by snatching a place in THE top 10.
For the French team Alpine, the road to the cross continues: despite the new parts integrated into the blue single-seaters this weekend, Esteban Ocon will start in 15e position, ahead of his teammate and compatriot Pierre Gasly, 17e.
“I think we extracted the maximum potential from the car today [samedi], but unfortunately that was not enough to get better than fifteenth place, lamented Ocon. Tomorrow [dimanche], we will try to take full advantage of the opportunities that arise. »
Consult the starting grid