Max Verstappen takes pole for Japanese Grand Prix

SPORTSAREENA.comOctober 9, 2022

63 2 minutes read

Runaway championship chief Max Verstappen took pole position on Saturday for the Japanese Grand Prix as he makes an attempt to clinch his second straight world title this weekend in Suzuka.

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The Red Bull driver topped the timesheets in dry situations with a time of 1:29.304, simply 0.010 forward of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, his nearest championship rival. Carlos Sainz was third within the different Ferrari.

But Verstappen might discover himself in scorching water after stewards stated they’d examine an incident involving the Dutchman and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Norris was pressured onto the grass to keep away from hitting Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver muttering “unbelievable” over his staff radio however later apologising.

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Verstappen can clinch the title on Sunday if he wins the race with the quickest lap, it doesn’t matter what his rivals do.

The Dutchman can even retain his crown if he wins and Leclerc is third or decrease.

“It was incredible to drive here again and of course very happy to be on pole, but just super happy to be back here,” stated Verstappen, whose automobile misplaced a bit of bodywork on his final lap, after he ran extensive on a bit of the monitor.

“I lost a bit of my duct on that last lap which is why I didn’t improve. Tomorrow will be interesting with the weather.”

Showers are forecast for Sunday.

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“It’s a very tricky lap around here, I lost the tyres in the last section so lost some time,” stated Leclerc after simply dropping out on pole.

“We’ll try and have a good race, we have a very limited amount of data so that’s always a challenge. Let’s wait and see the conditions – should be a fun race.”

Sergio Perez, within the different Red Bull, was fourth.

AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly did not make it previous Q1 after a problem along with his brakes.

The Frenchman, who introduced earlier within the day that he’ll change two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at Alpine subsequent season, was livid.

“I feel we could have managed this situation a bit better,” Gasly informed TV reporters.

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