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McLaren’s Lando Norris somehow managed to avoid a crash with Max Verstappen during the final part of qualifying at Suzuka.
McLaren’s Lando Norris somehow managed to avoid a crash with Max Verstappen during the final part of qualifying at Suzuka.
Max Verstappen has a great chance to seal his second world championship at the Japanese GP after pipping Charles Leclerc for pole position, and retain top spot following a post-qualifying investigation.
Verstappen was summoned by the stewards after a fascinating shootout for inadvertently giving Lando Norris his first few laps in Q3 and almost creating a huge collision, but was only given a reprimand.
It means he remains on pole, which he claimed just 0.010s ahead of Charles Leclerc, and can seal his second Suzuka crown by edging his rival by eight points in Sunday’s race, live on Sky Sports F1 at 6 am.
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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took pole for the Japanese Grand Prix but later faced an investigation over an incident with Lando Norris.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took pole for the Japanese Grand Prix but later faced an investigation over an incident with Lando Norris.
Leclerc ended up agonizing over Verstappen in qualifying, with team-mate Carlos Sainz also a tenth behind, and although Verstappen didn’t improve on his final lap, he still took pole with a 1:29.304.
Sergio Perez was fourth in the other Red Bull, while Esteban Ocon beat both Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton was the leading Silver Arrow in sixth, with George Russell just eighth, as the team, at top speed, failed to replicate their pace from Friday in the wet weather, which could return to the race for sunday
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Karun Chandhok was on SkyPad to analyze whether Red Bull’s Max Verstappen held off McLaren’s Lando Norris in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying
Karun Chandhok was on SkyPad to analyze whether Red Bull’s Max Verstappen held off McLaren’s Lando Norris in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying
Norris, upset by Verstappen’s actions, was only 10th for McLaren, behind Sebastian Vettel in an emotional and impressive final appearance at his favorite track.
Japanese Grand Prix qualifying results1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari4) Sergio Pérez, Red Bull5) Esteban Ocon, Alpine6) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes7) Fernando Alonso, Alpine8) George Russell, Mercedes9) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin10) Lando Norris, McLaren
Norris: Verstappen deserved penalty | Max: Should be more “respectful”
Verstappen, in dominant form, looked good on his way to pole during Saturday’s penalty shootout – fastest in Q1 and the start of Q2 – although there was one highly controversial moment at the start of Q3.
Before the lap that would finally give him pole, the Dutchman was slowly driving through the fastest section of the track, warming up the tires. Norris, however, adopted a different strategy and went to overtake Verstappen on the straight, before the Red Bull veered left as he tried to accelerate on his cold tyres.
Norris had to make a quick move to avoid the grass, then had a slow first lap in Q3. Verstappen, meanwhile, set the fastest lap of the day. He raised his hand to apologize to Norris on the lap, but stewards quickly claimed he was under investigation and at risk of a penalty.
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McLaren’s Lando Norris blamed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for almost causing a collision with him during Q3 at Suzuka.
McLaren’s Lando Norris blamed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for almost causing a collision with him during Q3 at Suzuka.
F1 rules state that “at no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner that could be considered potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person”.
“I mean it was pretty clear that he tried [block me]” Norris told Sky Sports F1. “There’s no rule about what you can do, but to do what he did is something you can’t do.
“People always move forward before the last bend, as much as everyone agrees [gentleman’s agreement]everyone does it all the time, so it doesn’t matter, he probably would have done the same if he was in my situation, but I wouldn’t have turned him away if I had been in his situation.”
Verstappen, however, argued that Norris should have been more “respectful”.
“We were on our lap and we were all lining up to try to create a gap for everyone, and somehow I still wanted to take myself to the chicane,” Verstappen said. “But I was at the point of acceleration, I had really cold tires, so I had a moment and that’s why he had to drive around me.
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Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Lando Norris was wrong to try to pass Max Verstappen on his lap, but did not think the Dutchman should be penalized for the incident after securing pole.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Lando Norris was wrong to try to pass Max Verstappen on his lap, but did not think the Dutchman should be penalized for the incident after securing pole.
“But if you’re a little more respectful, everyone’s already lining up anyway. I don’t think anyone’s trying to pass that last chicane, so basically, by trying to pass me, you create that kind of problem.”
Christian Horner also cited a “gentleman’s agreement” that drivers hold position at the end of their laps, although Sky Sports F1’s Jenson Button believed there could be a penalty due to potentially dangerous driving .
“I don’t think it was intentional, when Lando says he turned left on me, I don’t think he did,” said Button, the 2009 world champion.
“He [Max] he’s not looking in the mirrors, he seems to have hit the throttle to try and warm up the tires and that puts him in a position where he looks like he’s moving on Lando. Should I have done it? No.
“It’s too slow coming out of a 200mph corner, so that’s the problem it has.
“None of this was intentional, but the problem is that it could have been a mass incident and it was very close to being a mass incident between the two cars.”
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Lewis Hamilton admits his speed on the line cost him in qualifying, meaning he will start sixth in his Mercedes at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton admits his speed on the line cost him in qualifying, meaning he will start sixth in his Mercedes at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The other qualifying stories and final time sheet
Red Bull and Ferrari were in a league of their own on Saturday, while Mercedes were in a battle behind with McLaren and Alpine.
Lacking straight-line speed in a car they surely can’t wait to see the back of, Hamilton and Russell had to give it their all to reach Q3 and in the end could only manage sixth and eighth, respectively.
They were beaten by Ocon and slotted by Fernando Alonso’s other impressive Alpine.
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AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was none too pleased as brake problems saw him ruled out of Q1 in Japan
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was none too pleased as brake problems saw him ruled out of Q1 in Japan
Vettel was another standout of the shootout, reaching Q3, while his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll was eliminated in Q2, while one of the big disappointments fell to AlphaTauri.
Pierre Gasly, who in the early hours of Suzuka morning was finally confirmed as the Alpine driver for 2023, qualified only 17th.
Look Max…