2023-09-23 19:34:35
The Dutchman is back on his feet after a poor performance in Singapore.
Formula One leader Max Verstappen took first place on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday after beating McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri by 0.581 seconds.
Highly motivated after missing the podium in Singapore last week, Verstappen has led all practice sessions since arriving in Japan.
The Dutch Red Bull driver was the fastest on the asphalt of the Suzuka circuit with a time of 1 minute, 28.877 seconds.
It was Verstappen’s ninth pole position, but his first since the Dutch Grand Prix a month ago.
“It’s an incredible weekend so far and especially in qualifying when you can really push the limit, it felt very, very good,” Verstappen acknowledged.
“We had a bad weekend in Singapore, but from the preparation we felt that it was going to be a good track for us,” he added.
Australian Piastri will start from the front row of the grid for the first time in his F1 career.
“It will be incredible, there is only one car in front of us that we have to overcome and I am going to try to make it happen,” said the 21-year-old driver, who signed a contract extension with McLaren until the end of the 2026 season.
His teammate, Lando Norris, set the third fastest time. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth while Red Bull’s second driver, Mexican Sergio Pérez, was fifth.
Starting from the first positions is crucial in Suzuka. On only one occasion in the last 12 races has the winner not started from the front row: Valtteri Bottas rose to the top of the box in 2019 despite starting third.
Verstappen saw his record of 10 consecutive wins broken in Singapore, where he crossed the finish line in fifth position. Carlos Sainz won in Marina Bay with Ferrari, and the Red Bulls were off the podium for the first time this season.
Unlike the Singapore street circuit, Suzuka is a high-speed track much more suitable for Verstappen’s car.
The Dutchman secured his second consecutive championship in Japan last year.
Despite having his worst result since last November in Singapore, Verstappen extended his lead in the championship to 151 points over Pérez, who was eighth.
With seven races left in the season, including three sprints, there are 206 points up for grabs, meaning Verstappen will not be able to mathematically secure another title at Suzuka.
At the earliest, he could do it in Qatar on October 8.
Renewal at AlphaTauri
Yuki Tsunada and Australian Daniel Ricciardo will be AlphaTauri’s drivers in 2024, the team announced on Saturday.
Tsunada, 23, has struggled this season with just three points. But the team said it was impressed by what it called “natural talent” and “constant improvement.”
Ricciardo is out after suffering a broken hand, but the eight-time Grand Prix champion made a good impression in Hungary and Belgium.
New Zealander Liam Lawson, who currently takes Ricciardo’s place, will return as a reserve.
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