Max Verstappen, a three-time world champion, secured pole position for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, narrowly beating Sergio Perez in the qualifying session to clinch a Red Bull one-two. Verstappen, who faced disappointment with a non-finish at the Australian race two weeks ago, posted the fastest lap time of 1 minute 28.197 seconds under dry conditions at Suzuka, just 0.066 seconds ahead of his Mexican teammate.
This marked the fourth occasion this season that the Dutch driver has claimed pole position in as many races. Verstappen commented, “It was a tight competition towards the end. Suzuka is a track where pushing the limits doesn’t always yield success.” Lando Norris of McLaren secured third place, trailing Verstappen by 0.292 seconds. Perez was on course for third place until the final moments of a thrilling qualifying session, where he nearly snatched pole position from his teammate.
#BREAKING Max Verstappen takes pole position for Japanese Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/hkfAPnwYjk
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 6, 2024
Your 2024 Japanese Grand Prix starting grid 🏁#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/lelAWrb87Z
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2024
Perez remarked, “We were closely matched throughout the session. When operating within such fine margins, every detail matters.” Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, who emerged victorious in Melbourne, secured fourth place. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin claimed fifth position, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished eighth, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Max Verstappen had clinched victories in the first two races of the season but faced retirement in Melbourne due to a brake issue, marking his first race retirement in two years. However, he showcased his formidable skills at Suzuka, leading the time charts in the first and third practice sessions and delivering a dominant performance in qualifying, securing pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix for the third consecutive year.
READ MORE: New York Witnesses Second Earthquake Of 4.0 Hours After 4.8 Magnitude Tremors Leaves The City Shaken
