The Dutchman was fastest in a dry session in which he took the closest pole of 2022: just 10 thousandths over Leclerc and only 57th over Sainz Alonso, grey: 7th
Max Verstappen has many options to declare himself two-time Formula 1 world champion on Sunday. The Dutchman must be at least 6th: from then on it is a matter of counting. If he wins and sets the fastest lap, look no further.
That’s why he didn’t speculate this Saturday. The Red Bull rider finished his fifth pole position of the season, the 18th in his sporting career, in a standings kept on dry land, and this is news. After Friday’s practice sessions in the rain, mixed conditions are expected for this Sunday, so Verstappen will have to eliminate as many rivals as possible if he doesn’t want to have any problems singing the alirón.
If we don’t see them ruining it on Sunday (in all likelihood they will), Ferrari wants to be their big rival. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz made it very difficult for the big favorite for the win, as they came very close to pole position. In fact, the Monegask was only 10 thousandths away from the Red Bull driver’s time, the smallest gap of the year and the third by the smallest margin in recent years in Formula 1. Sainz was also a breath of fresh air: only 57 thousandth. A ‘whiplash’ in the latter part of the Japanese circuit caused him to lose that tenth which would probably have enabled him to become a judge. “I’m tired of staying half a tenth off pole,” lamented the Spaniard, who is already insensitive to seeing himself in this situation.
That role, however, was reserved for the stewards. By order of Eduardo Freitas, one of the two race directors, Max Verstappen was investigated for an action that almost caused a very serious accident in the dangerous (and mythical) corner 130R. The Dutchman was on a tire warm-up lap when he accelerated and the car flipped sideways. Lando Norris came from behind preparing his turn and had to swerve to avoid hitting him. He landed on the grass and it all ended in a huge fright, a great lesson in reflexes from the McLaren driver… and an investigation. The FIA was in a position to sanction the big favorite for the win and, by extension, the World Cup, by three positions, or accept the statement that he had cold tires (something that happened to more drivers, as they later said) and that whiplash was unforeseeable.
They agreed with the second and the Dutchman held the post. Pilate would be proud of the commissioners.
Throughout the weekend, right up to qualifying, Fernando Alonso had shown clear superiority over Esteban Ocon. Friday with the wet track made it clear that this could be his great weekend of justification, but this Saturday everything changed.
After a more than decent 4th time in free practice in the morning, with the track already dry, there were high hopes for what the still Alpine rider could do. And again he disappointed at the critical moment.
If there is one Achilles heel that has struck Alonso in his sporting career, especially lately, it is to finish on Saturday. In fact, his pole stats are far from huge, 22 compared to 32 wins or 98 podium finishes. In large part, that’s because the same thing is happening in Q3: it’s falling short. In a session like the one lived in Suzuka, Alonso went from 4th to 7th in the time frame. Just a tenth better would have enabled him to be the best of the rest and overtake Esteban Ocon, who will start two places ahead of him, with Lewis Hamilton in between.
The option for this Sunday is a crazy race. The Spaniard has no other choice: he knows that on a circuit that drains as well as this, it is not only useful for there to be water on the track, as foreseeable, but that it has to go from dry to wet so that there are alternatives. In the most troubled rivers you can fish best in Alonso. “In the rain we would go a little better, or so it seems… but the best would definitely be a slightly changing race, from dry to wet. Take advantage of an opportunity, risk more than the cars in front of us, who are playing for more important things in the championship, so we can take a little more risk, hopefully that’s the case,” he wished after the qualifying session.
Getting up early for the race will be worth it. The Suzuka circuit has decided eleven world championships and in a fair fight everything points to this Sunday being the twelfth time. Verstappen knows this and so, even before he knew the stewards’ verdict, he focused on warning that he would not leave his rivals one iota. If he didn’t speculate on Saturday, he certainly won’t if it really matters.
Source: La Verdad
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