Sainz jokes Lando Norris should ‘get his appendix removed’ to secure F1 win
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.
The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.
His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.
Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan. The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.
Follow live updates from the Japanese Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX – LATEST UPDATES
Show latest update 1712387280
TOP-10 IN QUALIFYING:
1) Max Verstappen – 1:28:197
5) Fernando Alonso – +0.489
6) Oscar Piastri – +0.663
7) Lewis Hamilton – +0.669
8) Charles Leclerc – +0.689
9) George Russell – +0.811
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:08
1712400016
Mercedes hit with FIA fine after George Russell pit-lane incident
Russell was released right into the path of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who had to steer left to avoid the Mercedes W15.
Piastri said over team radio: “Very dangerous from Russell.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 11:40
1712395696
Lewis Hamilton makes shock Mercedes claim despite poor qualifying
While from the outside that would suggest Mercedes once again struggled with an underperforming car – like much of the past two years – Hamilton was in good spirits following Saturday’s qualifying.
Having lamented the gap to pole-sitter Max Verstappen over the team radio during the session, he had a more positive outlook in the aftermath.
“The car has been much nicer to drive this weekend… this is the nicest it has felt in three years,” he said. “I think we did a really good job over the last week, just the analysis we’ve done at the factory to get the car into a sweet spot.
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 10:28
1712394136
Charles Leclerc fumes at Ferrari mishap in Japan: ‘What are we doing?’
Charles Leclerc was in a state of bemusement prior to qualifying in Japan on Saturday, questioning his Ferrari team’s run-plan at the end of the final practice session.
Leclerc is four points off championship leader Max Verstappen heading into this weekend in Suzuka, following two podiums in the first three races.
Yet on early evidence, Ferrari cannot match the pace of Red Bull this weekend in Japan, with Leclerc unhappy at the Scuderia’s strategy at the end of the third practice session.
Leclerc failed to get a second “push lap” in at the end and was angry that his team kept him in the garage for too long at the end of the one-hour session.
“Honestly, I don’t get it,” Leclerc said over the team radio. “What are we doing to stay in the garage? Oh my god!”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 10:02
1712391796
Qualifying report: Max Verstappen continues qualifying dominance to take pole position in Japan
Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.
The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.
His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.
Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan.
The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen took pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix (Hiro Komae/AP) (AP)
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 09:23
1712390793
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying P7:
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 09:06
1712389216
Charles Leclerc, after qualifying P8:
“It’s one of those sessions where you get it once in a season, it’s not a good feeling. We can always improve like every qualifying – if I rely on the feeling at the end of the lap, it’s a good lap but then you look at the board. I’ve tried many different things today but it didn’t work, I don’t have the answer.
“On a track like this, qualifying position is extremely important. We didn’t do a good job.
“From Q1 to Q3, it wasn’t a strong session. We’ve got to look into it.
“Race-pace looks strong, I hope we have the opportunity to overtake. It’s going to be difficult to overtake, I’ll do my best and see.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:40
1712388436
Max Verstappen:
“It was quite close at the end. When you want to go to the limit, it doesn’t always work out – most important to be on pole. Overall, a very good day. Tomorrow is what counts.
“It’s great as a team to be P1 and P2, hopefully we can keep that going.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:27
1712387940
Sergio Perez:
“We hooked it in all together but unfortunately just not enough.
“We’ve been really close all weekend, when you’re in that little margins, everything can make a difference. We are in a good position for tomorrow.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:19
1712387580
Lando Norris:
“We’ve had a good car all weekend, we’re trying to catch up to the two Red Bulls. The team is doing a good job, the hard work is paying off slowly.
“Today is a good start, but we go to tomorrow.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:13
