Verstappen, championship pole in Japan by thousandths against Leclerc and Sainz

“I need a perfect weekend,” he said. Verstappen Thursday I don’t like any mistakes after accomplishments Singapore. He wants to take advantage of his second chance to win the title and conquer it at home sling bagin Japanese. Max and Red Bull did not fail twice, and they started by proving it in today’s classification. Verstappen took pole at Saturday’s F1 Japanese GP, at Suzuka, number 18 for him in F1, and gives way to the sceptre. This Sunday he will start from pole position in his quest to become a two-time F1 world champion and, at the age of 25, match Fernando Alonso’s two titles and the Asturian’s 32 F1 victories. You can leave first, though after a few moments of waiting, as Max made a huge and very dangerous mistake in fully qualifying by interfering with Norris, something that could have cost him a penalty that ultimately didn’t come.

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The Dutchman prepares his lap, drives very slowly in the last sector, and in the last meters of the turn he suddenly changes his direction. Lando Norris, who was also rushing from behind on his warm-up lap, almost took it away. The Englishman had to avoid him by putting the wheel at full speed on the grass, something that could cost Max a starting position. However, the trustees finally decided to settle what happened with a reprimand for Max, respecting his first position.

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hair pole

Ferrari had more options to fight against in Milton Keynes in a lap than in the race due to its greater wear and tear, but here the current king of F1 did not disappoint in the dry conditions. Leclerc and Sainz tried everything to prevent Verstappen from gaining the upper hand. In other combinations, if the Dutchman achieves victory and the fastest lap at Suzuka, he will be the champion in 2022. On a circuit where the poleman usually wins, Max closed the first part of his masterpiece on a note by beating the red cars by 1000.

the of red bull he started the day sending a message of strength by leading the Free 3. And from then on, no one was going to stop him. In the first test of Q3, Verstappen He beat Leclerc by 0.253 and Sainz by half a second, failing in the second sector. But everything will be decided in the last shot, where three pilots hit the target, but Max, by a hair, was more accurate. On the last lap, things were very tight. Max won only 10 thousandths Charles (2nd) and Sainz were third at 57 thousandths. In a handkerchief, but the pole went to Verstappen, who this Sunday will go all out in search of his crown. Max doesn’t care if a part of his car is lost in the middle of the lap. He wants a pole, he wins on the track and the stewards respect it.

The rain, the main complication

If the race is dry this Sunday, there is no doubt that Max will have everything in his hands to take the title. But the Suzuka clouds could complicate things for the Dutchman and add spice to the matter. The race can be full of chaos, as the chance of rain in the race to change things is 90% (before starting, 40%). The water could change the normal course of events as it brings the point of uncertainty needed to make this Sunday’s race epic. Water seems to be the best weapon for Ferrari to look for the surprise, if they can surprise the champion.

Alonzo, 7th

Fernando Alonso I am making a sensational classification. In Free Practice 3 he showed the good potential of his Alpine occupying the fourth position and staying there in Q1. In Q2 he put on another new tire in his last attempt and finished second. He could fight to be the best of the others, but in the end, in the last lap where he could not improve his first Q3 time, he finished 7th behind Pérez (4th), his teammate Ocon (5th) and Hamilton (6th). The Spaniard will try to take advantage of all the opportunities that the race and the expected rain will give him to maximize his result. He wants to add points again after two races abandoned due to engine problems. It did not change its engine at this appointment, so the main question is whether the reliability problems will repeat themselves in this test.

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