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The stands and hills around the Suzuka circuit were packed for qualifying for the Japanese GP. The motorsport-crazy Japanese were once again present in large numbers to cheer on their local hero Yuki Tsunoda, as well as all the other riders.
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In Q1 we saw Max Verstappen drive to the fastest time with a nice lead. We immediately got a big surprise because Lance Stroll was eliminated in his Aston Martin with a sixteenth fastest time. The difference with teammate Fernando Alonso was big because he managed to advance to Q2 without any problems with a second time.
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In Q2 we saw the Red Bulls take to the track very early, a striking difference from most other drivers who took to the track much later.
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In the end, it was Max Verstappen who was again the fastest, followed by teammate Sergio Perez by just 0.012 seconds. We were mainly looking forward to the battle for a place in Q3 and home driver Yuki Tsunoda narrowly managed to set the tenth fastest time. Tsunoda was only 0.055 seconds faster than Daniel Ricciardo. who had to give up his car during the first practice session on Friday and was unable to actually drive during the second practice session due to the rain.
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Max Verstappen entered Q3 as the big favorite and the main question was whether teammate Sergio Perez could be a threat to the battle for pole.
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During the first series of fast runs we saw Max Verstappen drive to a provisional pole position with a time of 1:28.240. Sergio Perez initially set the second fastest time, but Lando Norris struggled between the two Red Bulls in the McLaren. Charles Leclerc started his only fast run between the two fast runs of the other drivers and that lap was only good for a provisional seventh fastest time.
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In the second fast run, Max Verstappen improved his best time a bit. Teammate Sergio Perez stranded just 0.066 seconds behind Verstappen. Pole position for Max Verstappen and both Red Bulls on the front row. Lando Norris was ‘best of the rest’ in the McLaren, but had to give up three tenths. Red Bull is the big favorite for victory tomorrow and it will be interesting to see whether the two Red Bulls will compete against each other.
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:28.866s 1:28.740s 1:28.197s
2 Sergio Pérez Red Bull 1:29.303s 1:28.752s 1:28.263s
3 Lando Norris McLaren 1:29.536s 1:28.940s 1:28.489s
4 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:29.513s 1:29.099s 1:28.682s
5 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:29.254s 1:29.082s 1:28.686s
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:29.425s 1:29.148s 1:28.760s
7 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:29.661s 1:28.887s 1:28.766s
8 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:29.338s 1:29.196s 1:28.786s
9 George Russell Mercedes 1:29.799s 1:29.140s 1:29.008s
10 Yuki Tsunoda RB 1:29.775s 1:29.417s 1:29.413s
11 Daniel Ricciardo RB 1:29.727s 1:29.472s
12 Nico Hülkenberg Haas 1:29.821s 1:29.494s
13 Valtteri Bottas Sauber 1:29.602s 1:29.593s
14 Alexander Albon Williams 1:29.963s 1:29.714s
15 Esteban Ocon Alpine 1:29.811s 1:29.816s
16 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1:30.024s
17 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:30.119s
Tags: Max Verstappen