Max Verstappen stunned both his Red Bull team and McLaren rivals by securing pole position for the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, narrowly beating Lando Norris by just 0.012 seconds on his final lap of qualifying.
Throughout the weekend, it seemed McLaren was on track for pole with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri showing strong pace. Piastri even topped the timing sheets during the initial part of the session, clocking in 0.226 seconds faster than Verstappen. However, it was the defending world champion who outshone everyone with a stunning final lap, snatching pole at the iconic Suzuka circuit.
Piastri ended up third, just behind Norris, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell, despite showing promise in the earlier sessions, settled for fifth. Russell’s teammate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, could only manage eighth position after struggling for pace during the top 10 shootout.
Verstappen’s Thrilling Lap
Verstappen, visibly thrilled with his pole position, described his final lap as “insane” after it appeared that he was pushing the limits of control around Suzuka’s challenging corners. His race engineer, Giampiero Lambiase, could hardly contain his excitement over the radio, calling the lap “insane.” Verstappen himself admitted that driving at the limit was incredibly rewarding, particularly at a circuit regarded as one of the toughest in Formula 1.
“Every session, we made small improvements, and then on the final lap, I just went for it,” Verstappen said. “Around here, being on the limit, or maybe just a little bit over the limit in places, is incredibly rewarding. It’s insane what an F1 car feels like around this track.”
Norris, while disappointed to miss out on pole, acknowledged Verstappen’s brilliance: “Max did an amazing lap,” Norris said. “I’m happy with my performance, but we just didn’t have enough today. My lap was very good, but Max was a step ahead.”
Piastri and Tsunoda Fall Short
Oscar Piastri also felt he could have improved his performance, admitting that his final lap didn’t come together as he hoped. “It was incredibly tight, and there’s still all to play for tomorrow,” said Piastri.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, could only manage 15th place in qualifying. The Japanese driver, who replaced Liam Lawson just two races ago, was 0.498 seconds slower than Verstappen in the second session, and was knocked out early. Tsunoda was clearly frustrated, describing his lap as “pretty messy,” and expressed disappointment over being out-qualified by Lawson’s Racing Bull.
Grass Fires and Weather Concerns
Another issue during qualifying was a series of grass fires at Suzuka, with a fifth fire breaking out near the 130R corner, causing a six-minute stoppage during the second part of qualifying. The fires were extinguished by officials, but it remained a concern after similar disruptions during practice. Rain is forecast overnight, and it remains to be seen how the FIA will address the situation before the race.
Hamilton Struggles in Q3
As for Mercedes, Hamilton faced difficulties in the final qualifying session. He was impeded by Carlos Sainz during his final lap, but Hamilton admitted to struggling with pace throughout the session. “I generally struggled,” Hamilton said. “When I got to Q3, I wasn’t able to improve. I had a big snap oversteer in the middle sector on my first lap, and then my second lap was even worse in that sector. It’s not where I want to be.”
Sainz, who was penalized for blocking Hamilton, will start 15th due to a three-place grid penalty, while Hamilton’s teammate Russell will start from fifth.
Other Notable Performances
Williams’ Alex Albon impressed by taking ninth, while rookie Oliver Bearman put in a stellar performance for Haas, qualifying in 10th. On the other hand, Esteban Ocon was far from impressed with his performance, starting 18th.
With a thrilling grid set for the Japanese Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Verstappen and his ability to defend his pole position in tomorrow’s race at one of Formula 1’s most challenging and revered circuits.
