In what may be his best qualification ever, Max Verstappen has secured pole position for the Grand Prix of Japan. The Dutchman set a lap record in Q3, outperforming all rivals in a manner he himself did not expect in the challenging RB21.
Below is a brief overview of the qualification for the GP Australia:
Q1: Discomfort for Hadjar, Stroll’s Misstep
Notably in Q1 are the troubles surrounding Isack Hadjar. The Racing Bulls driver appears to be literally uncomfortable in the car. He is in pain and unable to concentrate, according to the on-board radio. Yet he survives Q1, as does teammate Liam Lawson (for the first time this season). Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton tries to endure Q1 on medium tires to save a set of soft ones. A nice thought, but no prize: the Ferrari driver is too slow. On soft, he manages to save his skin. Max Verstappen advances as number six. The four-time and reigning world champion is slightly faster than Lawson’s replacement Yuki Tsunoda, but two-tenths slower than Oscar Piastri. Lance Stroll fares worse: he has to start last, a mistake with a misstep seals his fate.
Q1 Dropouts: Hülkenberg, Bortoleto, Ocon, Doohan, Stroll.
Q2: Another Grass Fire and Red Flag, Tsunoda Behind Lawson
It’s that time again: a grass fire. For the fifth (!) time this weekend, the grass along the track catches fire, resulting in a red flag. At that moment, Lando Norris has already set a very fast time, just a tenth above Sebastian Vettel’s lap record from 2019. With just over eight minutes on the clock, the session resumes. Yuki Tsunoda experiences how difficult the RB21 is to drive: he finishes only fifteenth, even a place behind Liam Lawson and with a slower time than in Q1. Painful for Red Bull. Max Verstappen is half a second faster, he neatly advances to Q3.
Q2 Dropouts: Gasly, Sainz, Alonso, Lawson, Tsunoda.
Q3: Verstappen Secures Pole in Sublime Fashion
It’s Piastri who strikes the first blow in Q3. With 1.27,053, he narrowly improves Sebastian Vettel’s lap record from 2019. McLaren teammate Lando Norris goes one better: 1.26,995. But it’s Max Verstappen who manages to improve that time: thus, an incredible pole position is a fact. It’s one of his perhaps best poles ever. An honorable mention goes to the uncomfortably driving Hadjar: he also surprisingly qualifies and starts seventh. The race in Suzuka starts Sunday morning at 8.00 Dutch time.
