F1: Max Verstappen on pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc misses out

Max Verstappen is definitely very comfortable in Japan. The Dutchman won pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday 6 April, his third in a row at Suzuka. Red Bull celebrated by taking the front row for the first time this season, with Sergio Pérez second, two weeks after the fiasco in Australia. The Mexican was very close to setting the best time over his teammate (+0″066). The two neighbors in the pits were in front of Lando Norris (McLaren) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari).

Burdened by poor handling at the start of the session and his tires, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) failed to be better than eighth fastest. “It’s the best I can do, I don’t understand” he was surprised. Far, far away even, almost six tenths of a second from the front row and the previously untouchable Verstappen in the timing exercise with his fourth pole in four races.

Behind them, the battle for the podium will be very tight. If Norris proved to be “the best of the rest” with a very nice lap, the rest of the pack is holding on from exhaust to exhaust: between the two Ferraris, fourth and eighth, the difference is only a tenth of a second, while Leclerc or Sainz climbed to the front row during each of the first three meetings in 2024. In the chase, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) regained some color after a very complicated start to the season (7th).

Next, Frenchman Esteban Ocon (15th) managed to get out of the first part of the session, confirming Alpinco’s small progress. His compatriot and teammate Pierre Gasly will start from 17th place. The Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 7 a.m. in France.