The Quebec driver Lance Stroll once more experienced problems in qualifying, he who might not do better than a 19e place at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday. The big difference this time was that he was completely outplayed by team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
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Stroll might only do better than a place on the last starting line, in the penultimate position on the grid, by virtue of a time of 1 min 31.419 s in the first session (Q1).
“Unfortunately, my wheels got stuck in the hairpin at turn 11 and I lost three tenths, and that’s what prevented us from getting out of Q1,” explained the Montrealer, his remarks being taken up by the site web of his stable.
The cars were finally running on a dry track following the wet conditions on Friday. Without precipitation, Stroll believes he can climb several places on Sunday.
“It’s not ideal to start 19th, but tomorrow is another day and we’ll see what we can do in the race.”
Vettel s’amuse
Meanwhile, the other Aston Martin driver just secured his place for the second session thanks to a lap of 1:31.256. It was also during Q2 that Vettel demonstrated the extent of his talent in this car, completing the layout of the Suzuka circuit in 1 min 30.656 s. He will finally start from ninth place on the starting grid on Sunday.
The other Canadian on the track, Nicholas Latifi, will start from last position in his Williams, he who was slower than Stroll during the first session (1 min 31.511 s).
At the front of the grid, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured pole position, thanks to a fast lap of 1:29.304. The Dutchman might also seize the drivers’ championship on Sunday, during the 18th of the 22 events scheduled on the calendar.
He will have to be wary of the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who will start second and third respectively following finishing their lap one hundredth and 57 thousandths of a second behind Verstappen.
