The Japanese Grand Prix is looking to be an exciting race, at least in the midfield, where the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin are all pacing similarly around the Suzuka Circuit. Red Bull, once again, are running away with the lead as the reigning champion Max Verstappen takes pole position and Sergio Perez places his car beside him with an equally impressive qualifying run.
This is what you need to know if you missed out on the exciting, albeit early, qualifying round.
Red Bull Racing Dominates Again
In a now-familiar outcome for the 2024 season, Red Bull Racing secured a one-two finish in qualifying, with Max Verstappen leading Sergio Perez. Verstappen, piloting his Honda RB-PT powered RB20, posted a final Q3 time of 1:28.197.
Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 06,…
Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Perez followed closely with a Q3 time of 1:28.263, highlighting Red Bull’s reliable dominance. The top eight drivers were incredibly close, covered by just 0.589 seconds, showcasing just how competitive this grid is, but it’s fair to say the Milton Keynes squad still has the upper hand.
Despite the close competition, Red Bull’s upgrades, including slimmed-down brake ducts and a more efficient sidepod design, have kept them at the forefront, indicating their strong position for the race.
Max Verstappen (P1): Q1 – 1:28.866, Q2 – 1:28.740, Q3 – 1:28.197Sergio Perez (P2): Q1 – 1:29.303, Q2 – 1:28.752, Q3 – 1:28.263
Mercedes Searches for Consistency
Despite high hopes for a more stable performance, the team grappled with tire overheating issues, affecting their overall pace. The absence of new upgrades left the team relying on setup improvements, which did not yield the expected results. However, their race setup looks promising, offering a potential for recovery during the race.
Conversations are surrounding Mercedes as to who will replace the 7-time champion when he makes his move to Ferrari for next year, with Hamilton admitting that the retired Sebastian Vettel would be “an amazing option”. Team principal Toto Wolff is still keeping quiet on the subject, but has narrowed the search down to two or three drivers.
Lewis Hamilton (P7): Q1 – 1:29.661, Q2 – 1:28.887, Q3 – 1:28.766George Russell (P9): Q1 – 1:29.799, Q2 – 1:29.140, Q3 – 1:29.008
Ferrari: A Mixed Bag
Ferrari experienced a mixed qualifying session, with Carlos Sainz securing P4 but Charles Leclerc finishing in P8. Issues with tire temperatures seemed to affect their performance, with Leclerc only having one set of new soft tires for his final run. The team’s race pace appears strong, but overtaking challenges at Suzuka could impact their ability to capitalize on this strength.
It’s a crucial weekend for Leclerc, who needs to outperform Sainz to regain momentum within the team, but an odd strategy call meant that he likely went out on-track at the wrong time, leaving him with very little opportunity to climb higher up the starting grid.
Carlos Sainz (P4): Q1 – 1:29.513, Q2 – 1:29.099, Q3 – 1:28.682Charles Leclerc (P8): Q1 – 1:29.338, Q2 – 1:29.196, Q3 – 1:28.786
McLaren Surprises with Norris in P3
McLaren delivered a surprise performance, with Lando Norris securing P3, providing the team with a strong starting position for the race. Norris’s performance, particularly in Q3, highlighted McLaren’s potential to challenge the front-runners but also put to bed any worries about the Brit’s qualifying performance. It was a very impressive piece of driving by Norris. Oscar Piastri, despite facing challenges, qualified in P6, showcasing McLaren’s overall competitiveness.
Piastri was almost hit by George Russell, resulting in a fine for Mercedes, and wasn’t able to get his last lap quite right, resulting in a start from P6.
Lando Norris (P3): Q1 – 1:29.536, Q2 – 1:28.940, Q3 – 1:28.489Oscar Piastri (P6): Q1 – 1:29.425, Q2 – 1:29.148, Q3 – 1:28.760
Aston Martin and Alonso Impress
Fernando Alonso qualified in P5, demonstrating his experience and skill, particularly with a strong lap in Q3. And the new Aston Martin upgrades have actually surprised the Spaniard with how good they are.
Aston Martin’s performance, with Alonso leading their charge, indicates their capability to compete at a high level. Lance Stroll, however, often struggles in Japan’s qualifying, starting P16 which will require a strong race performance to recover. Suzuka isn’t the easiest place to overtake, so it’s going to be a difficult weekend for the team owner’s son.
Fernando Alonso (P5): Q1 – 1:29.254, Q2 – 1:29.082, Q3 – 1:28.686Lance Stroll (P16): Q1 – 1:30.024
Alpine: Struggling for Traction
Alpine’s qualifying session was marked by struggles to find the optimal setup for the challenging Suzuka Circuit. Esteban Ocon managed to reach Q2 but could not find the pace to challenge for a higher position, ultimately finishing 15th with a Q2 time of 1:29.816. This result indicates that while Alpine may have the potential for midfield competitiveness, but finding the right balance and tire performance remains a hurdle. Pierre Gasly, returning to the track where he has shown brilliance in the past, found his session cut short in Q1, ending in 17th place with a time of 1:30.119.
Esteban Ocon (P15): Q1 – 1:29.811, Q2 – 1:29.816, Laps – 12Pierre Gasly (P17): Q1 – 1:30.119, Laps – 6
Williams Racing: Seeking Gains
Williams Racing faced a challenging qualifying session at Suzuka, with Alex Albon showcasing his skill to advance to Q2, ultimately securing 14th place with a best Q2 lap time of 1:29.714. This performance highlights Albon’s ability to push the car beyond its expected limits, showcasing a glimmer of hope for Williams in their quest for points. On the other hand, rookie Logan Sargeant was unable to progress beyond Q1, ending up in 19th place with a best time of 1:30.139.
This comes after Logan Sargeant’s crash during FP1 this race week, which may have ruined his confidence a little. This crash has also meant he doesn’t have all of the upgraded parts, including front wing endplates.
Alexander Albon: Q1 – 1:29.963, Q2 – 1:29.714, Laps – 9Logan Sargeant: Q1 – 1:30.139, Laps – 6
Haas F1 Team: A Mixed Qualifying Performance
The Haas F1 Team had a mixed outing during the qualifying session at Suzuka. Nico Hulkenberg managed to outperform expectations by securing a spot in Q2 and ultimately placing 12th with a best Q2 time of 1:29.494. This performance indicates a positive direction for Haas, as Hulkenberg continues to extract the maximum from his car.
On the other hand, Kevin Magnussen faced a more challenging session, concluding his qualifying attempt in Q1 with a best time of 1:30.131, positioning him in 18th place. This disparity between the two drivers highlights the team’s ongoing efforts to find consistency and competitiveness in a tightly packed midfield.
Nico Hulkenberg (P12): Q1 – 1:29.821, Q2 – 1:29.494, Laps – 12Kevin Magnussen (P18): Q1 – 1:30.131, Laps – 9
Visa Cash App RB: Showing Potential
RB, often showcasing their ability to punch above their weight, entered the qualifying session with a mix of anticipation and strategy. The team’s performance was highlighted by Yuki Tsunoda, who managed to progress through to Q3, a commendable achievement that placed him in 10th position with a best Q3 lap time of 1:29.413. Tsunoda’s performance at his home Grand Prix not only excited the local fans but also demonstrated the potential of the car and the talent of the young driver.
Daniel Ricciardo, joining the team properly for this season, displayed a strong effort but narrowly missed the chance to compete in Q3, finishing the session in 11th place with a best Q2 time of 1:29.472. This comes after he missed FP1 in order for Ayumu Iwasa to sit behind the wheel for the session instead.
Daniel will need a good result tomorrow to ensure his team remains confident in his performance.
Yuki Tsunoda (P10): Q1 – 1:29.775, Q2 – 1:29.417, Q3 – 1:29.413, Laps – 18Daniel Ricciardo (P11): Q1 – 1:29.727, Q2 – 1:29.472, Laps – 12
Sauber: A Day of Contrasts
Sauber experienced a day of contrasting fortunes during the qualifying session at Suzuka. Valtteri Bottas demonstrated his experience by advancing to Q2 and securing a respectable 13th position with a best Q2 time of 1:29.593, only a tenth behind Nico Hulkenberg. Bottas’s performance underscores the steady improvements the team has been making, as well as his ability to extract the maximum from the car under the high-pressure conditions of qualifying.
On the other end, Zhou Guanyu faced a more challenging session, concluding his qualifying effort in Q1. Finishing 20th with a lap time of 1:30.143, Zhou’s result was not indicative of his potential or the capabilities of the car, with him struggling with his rear tires locking up. There’s likely a technical issue behind this which Sauber will want to get their heads around.
Pit stops should look better this weekend, and an upgrade package may yield slightly better results.
Valtteri Bottas (P13): Q1 – 1:29.602, Q2 – 1:29.593, Laps – 12Zhou Guanyu (P20): Q1 – 1:30.143, Laps – 6
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