Valtteri Bottas’ difficult season continued in Japan as well. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen returned to the pole after a difficult weekend in Singapore.
The F1 season this year was dominated by Red Bull Max Verstappen returned to overwhelming number one after a difficult weekend in Singapore.
Verstappen swept the pole position in Suzuka qualifying in Japan by 0.581 seconds ahead of McLaren Oscar Piastria. McLaren was the surprise of the qualifying sessions, as well Lando Norris finished third ahead of Ferrarei and Red Bull’s co-driver Sergio Perez.
In Singapore, Verstappen was only eleventh in qualifying. Verstappen finished fifth in the race, but before Suzuka there were speculations about a possible Red Bull meltdown.
After good practice, Verstappen proved those speculations wrong in qualifying at the latest.
– We had a bad weekend in Singapore, but already from the preparation I felt that Suzuka was a good track for us, Verstappen said in the track interview after qualifying.
– You never know how good you can be, but it has felt good since the first round.
Earlier this week, Australian Piastri signed a contract extension with McLaren until 2026.
– We have updates in our car. We are fast. We thought we might have a fair chance here. Still, it has to be done. I am happy that our team is in second and third place, Piastri said.
Piastri also wants to challenge Verstappen right from the start.
– I will start from the first row for a long time. It will be cool. There is only one car in front that you can try to overtake. I’m trying to get it done, Piastri said.
Valtteri Bottas in wonder
Valtteri Bottas fell out of time right after the opening section. He was sixteen. There was 0.073 seconds to go to the top fifteen and the second section.
Bottas was surprised by his relegation on the team radio.
– I do not know what happened. My lap was good, a disappointed Bottas said.
He was still his amazing father even in the interview with Viaplay.
– There was just no speed. Special. The differences were small, of course, but it was the same feeling as in training. It felt like there was nothing wrong with the car. Maybe others found more speed during the night. Bad to say. I expected better, Bottas said.
Alfa Romeo made updates to their car a week ago in Singapore, but they have not been reflected in the results. Bottas stated before the weekend that the updates should work specifically on the Suzuka track. However, this did not happen this time, even though there were glimpses of better things in training.
After qualifying, Bottas was also under investigation by the jury, like a few other drivers, because he had driven slower than the so-called reference time on the exit lap.
– There was a faster gang on the exit lap. Had to move aside. It was impossible to reach the reference time. Don’t they understand that there was a traffic jam, Bottas said, and a moment later the F1 jury also let Bottas, his teammate Guanyu Zhou and Ferrari Charles Leclerc out of fear.
1) Max Verstappen Holland, Red Bull 1.29.878,
2) Oscar Piastri Australia, McLaren -0.581 seconds
3) Lando Norris Britain, McLaren -0.616
4) Charles Leclerc Monaco, Ferrari -0.665
5) Sergio Perez Mexico, Red Bull –0.773
6) Carlos Sainz Spain, Ferrari –0.973
7) Lewis Hamilton Great Britain, Mercedes –1.031
8) George Russell Britain, Mercedes –1.342
9) Yuki Tsunoda Japan, AlphaTauri –1.426
10) Fernando Alonso Spain, Aston Martin –1,683,
11) Liam Lawson New Zealand, AlphaTauri
12) Pierre Gasly France, Alpine
13) Alexander Albon Thailand, Williams
14) Esteban Ocon France, Alpine
15) Kevin Magnussen Denmark, Haas
16) Valtteri Bottas Finland, Alfa Romeo
17) Lance Stroll Canada, Aston Martin
18) Nico Hülkenberg Germany, Haas
19) Zhou Guanyu China, Alfa Romeo
20) Logan Sargeant USA, Williams