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Japanese GP | Verstappen takes pole in Japan with Sainz third

Max Verstappen has achieved pole for the Japanese Grand Prix and has put himself in an excellent position to storm his second world title this Sunday in Suzuka. The Dutch driver, who will open the grid for the fifth time this season, he didn’t have to suffer too much to achieve his goal, as Charles Leclerc, the one who came closest, was unable to improve on the Dutchman’s first attempt on his fastest lap and finished 10 thousandths behind. Carlos Sainzin the same tenth, will come out third tomorrow, while Fernando Alonso will do it from the seventh position.

Dry

The day at Suzuka has begun – at dawn in Spain – with Verstappen leading the third free practice sessions and the official announcements of Alpine and Alpha Tauri confirming, respectively, Pierre Gasly and Nick De Vries for the 2023 season.

Unlike the rainy Friday, the classification was held in favorable conditions, with dry asphalt and cool temperatures, 19ºC in the environment and 26ºC on the track. A strategic complication for Sunday’s race, with a good chance of being wet.

Max Verstappen, who this weekend can sentence title and crowned for the second consecutive year in Formula 1, has been the fastest entry, lowering his own time by more than four tenths to take the lead in his first lap (1.30.224), with Sainz and Leclerc 1 tenth and an inspired Fernando Alonso in fourth place.

Gasly and Tsunoda have reported brake problems of the Alpha Tauri, but while the Japanese has continued forward in front of his fans, the Frenchman has been eliminated in Q1, along with the two Williams of Albon and Latifi, Magnussen (Haas) and Stroll (Aston Martin).

Favorites, conservatives

Sainz (1.30.444) has led the first minutes of Q2 again ahead of his teammate Leclerc, but Verstappen has lowered the time of the Spanish (1.30.346) by just 98 thousandths, pointing to a maximum balance facing the final fight for pole.

Given their superiority, the two Ferrari drivers and Verstappen with Red Bull have decided reserve tireswhile Checo Pérez, who did mount new rubber, finished the session as the fastest (1.29.925), ahead of Alonso and Max.

Tsunoda has not passed the sieve, like Ricciardo, Bottas, Zhoy and Mick Schumacher. Vettel has set an impressive lap for save the danger zone and get into Q3 for the third time this season at the wheel of the Aston Martin.

The leader, on pole

Verstappen made a difference on his first fast lap attempt (1.29.304) and left Leclerc 2 tenths behind and Sainz 3. The Monegasque, author of nine pole positions this year, for the first time set a better time than the Madrid native but it was not enough to get close to a relentless ‘Mad’ Max.

With Sergio Peréz closing the ‘top 4’, Alonso has positioned himself as the best of the rest, in provisional fifth place. The Spaniard, who has just suffered two consecutive retirements in Italy and Singapore due to engine failure, has once again squeezed the Alpine to give his best again, although he made a mistake in the end.

On the decisive lap, Verstappen did not improve his time nor did he need it, since Leclerc, who had set the record in the second sector, lost his advantage in the last and finished 10 thousandths behind. Pole went to Max, followed by the two Ferraris, with Leclerc second and Sainz third. Pérez has ruled himself out of the fight and he finished fourth ahead of an Alpine, but not Alonso’s, who finished seventh, but Ocon’s, who will start fifth tomorrow at Suzuka.

Japanese Grand Prix (QP)

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’29″304

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’29″314

3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 1’29″361

4. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) 1’29″709

5. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 1’30″155

6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1’30″261

7. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) 1’30″322

8. George Russell (Mercedes) 1’30″389

9. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) 1’30″554

10. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1’31″003

11. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1’30″659 (*Q2)

12. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1’30″709

13. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1’30″808

14. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1’30″953

15. Mick Schumacher (Haas) 1’31″439

16. Alexander Albon (Williams) 1’31″311 (*Q1)

17. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) 1’31″322

18. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 1’31″352

19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’31″419

20. Nicholas Latifi (Williams) 1’31″511

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