SUZUKA, JAPAN – APRIL 6: Max Verstappen, from the Netherlands, drives the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on the track during the final practice before the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Circuit on April 6, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Perez challenged Verstappen for the win, with the Mexican finishing less than a tenth of a second behind in second place. Typically, there was a gap of over three tenths of a second between the Red Bull duo.
Lando Norris capitalized on McLaren’s strong performance in the first high-speed section, securing third place on the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
As the green light signaled the start of Q3 in Suzuka, Hamilton was the first to line up at the pit exit, followed by Russell.
While all other drivers went out to set their initial times in Q3, Leclerc remained in the pit. After the others completed their laps, Leclerc finally went out on track.
After the first set of laps, the order was as follows: Verstappen – Norris – Perez – Sainz – Piastri – Hamilton – Leclerc – Alonso – Russell – Tsunoda.
The report is currently being compiled…
Verstappen and Perez were the first drivers to venture out on track when Q2 began, with others following shortly after.
The initial laps in Q2 resulted in the following order: Verstappen – Perez – Norris – Alonso – Sainz – Piastri – Leclerc – Hamilton – Russell – Bottas.
Nico Hulkenberg’s lap time was deleted for exceeding track limits at turn 13, while Alex Albon chose not to set a lap time and instead focused on a single attempt.
Upon returning to the pit, Sainz reported that the throttle pedal was less responsive when driving at full speed.
With three minutes remaining, Hamilton led the pack for the final attempt in Q2, which would determine the top ten drivers advancing to Q3.
However, the first seven drivers chose to stay in their boxes with confidence.
After the end of Q2, Verstappen held the lead in the top 10 with a lap time of 1:28.740, just 0.012s ahead of teammate Perez in second, with Hamilton securing the third fastest time.
Daniel Ricciardo failed to advance from Q2, narrowly losing to teammate Tsunoda by just 0.055s. However, it was an improvement in performance for the Australian, who will start in 11th on the grid for Sunday’s race.
Hulkenberg was the 12th fastest driver in the Haas, trailing Ricciardo by 0.022s and leading Valtteri Bottas, who finished 13th in the Sauber, by 0.099s.
Alex Albon only managed to secure 14th place in the Williams, finishing 0.102s ahead of Esteban Ocon, who secured the 15th fastest time in the Alpine.
The temperature at the start of the qualifying session was slightly higher compared to FP3, with clear conditions and a track temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and an ambient temperature of 18 degrees.
Kevin Magnussen was the first driver to venture out on track as soon as the lights turned green, while others waited another four minutes before following suit.
During the simultaneous exit of all team drivers, Piastri and Russell nearly collided, with Piastri expressing his frustration to the team and the stewards taking note of the incident. An investigation will be conducted after the session.
The drivers began their laps, and Verstappen immediately took the lead on his first attempt, with Perez closely following. However, Alonso quickly overtook the Mexican driver.
After the first attempt, the order was as follows: Verstappen – Alonso – Perez – Piastri – Sainz – Norris – Hamilton – Russell – Tsunoda – Leclerc.
With less than five minutes remaining, the second attempts began, and the drivers hurried to avoid being eliminated in the first part of qualifying.
Except for Leclerc, who had a disappointing initial lap and went out for another attempt, as well as Tsunoda and Norris, the top ten drivers stayed in their boxes.
After the end of Q1, Verstappen maintained his position as the fastest driver with a lap time of 1:28.866, already faster than his pole position in 2023, and 0.388s ahead of Alonso in second, with Perez in third.
In contrast to Alonso, Lance Stroll was the first driver to be eliminated from Q1, falling short of Q2 by 0.061s and starting the race in 16th position.
Pierre Gasly, from Alpine, finished in 17th place, behind Stroll by 0.095s and leading Magnussen, who was the 18th fastest in the Haas, by 0.012s.
Logan Sargeant secured the 19th fastest time, with Zhou Guanyu in 20th place.
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The soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo scored once again during last night’s thrilling game. The Portuguese player shone on the field, securing the victory for his team. With his unparalleled skill, Ronaldo showed why he is considered one of the best players in the world.
The game started with the opposing team scoring a goal in the early minutes. However, Ronaldo did not let himself be discouraged and quickly equalized the score. His determination and talent were evident throughout the match, and he ended up scoring the winning goal in the final minutes.
Fans of Ronaldo were ecstatic with his incredible performance. On social media, many praised the player and considered him a true hero. Last night’s victory puts Ronaldo’s team in a favorable position in the championship, and fans are eager to see more brilliant plays from the soccer star.
Ronaldo also took the opportunity to thank his teammates and the fans for their support. He stated that without them, his performance would not be possible. The player also expressed his desire to continue working hard to achieve more victories and accomplishments.
With another spectacular goal, Cristiano Ronaldo once again proves why he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. His skill, determination, and passion for soccer are inspiring to players and fans around the world. The future certainly holds more exciting moments for this talented athlete.
