Max Verstappen edges Lando Norris to claim pole for… Read more
Max Verstappen stunned the Formula 1 world with a remarkable qualifying performance to claim pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, defying expectations given Red Bull’s struggles earlier in the weekend. Despite grappling with a tricky car setup, Verstappen’s skillful drive saw him edge out McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere one hundredth of a second. The McLaren duo, including Oscar Piastri, had been the fastest in practice, but Verstappen’s effort in qualifying, marked by his perfect lap, secured him the top spot.
The Red Bull team, led by Christian Horner, was elated by the result, which was especially unexpected given the difficulties they had encountered throughout the weekend. Horner praised Verstappen’s performance, calling it one of his best qualifying laps, as he extracted every ounce of performance from the car, which had been challenging to handle. Verstappen admitted that despite the pole position, he still wasn’t fully satisfied with the car’s balance, but acknowledged the result was a welcome surprise.
Red Bull’s struggles were evident throughout the season, with Verstappen’s frustrations clear as he faced difficulties with the car’s instability and narrow performance window. Teammates Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda had struggled to match Verstappen’s pace, highlighting his exceptional skill in overcoming the car’s limitations. Despite the McLarens being the dominant force in practice, Verstappen found the optimal setup in time for qualifying, turning the tables on their rivals.
As the final runs in qualifying unfolded, Norris set the bar high with a blistering lap, but Verstappen responded by finding his groove and delivering a record-breaking time of 1:26.983, securing the pole position. While Verstappen’s performance was extraordinary, the battle for the race victory is far from decided. McLaren’s car, known for its good tire management, is expected to challenge Verstappen in race pace, making it a tough task for him to maintain his lead.
The qualifying session also saw some notable performances from other drivers. Charles Leclerc secured fourth for Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton was eighth for Mercedes. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished fifth and sixth, respectively, while Isack Hadjar impressed with seventh for Racing Bulls. Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten.
However, the session was marked by the absence of Tsunoda, who failed to progress past Q2, finishing 15th. His performance at his home Grand Prix was disappointing after showing promise in earlier sessions. Tsunoda admitted to struggling with the car, and his lack of improvement in Q2 proved costly. The session was also interrupted by a red flag due to a fire caused by sparks from the cars, which may pose safety concerns for the race.
