Formula 1
MAX NAILS IT BEATING LECLERC TO POLE IN JAPAN!
Max will start on pole position for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix where he can win his second FIA Formula One World Championship title with a victory and fastest lap bonus point.
The Dutchman’s first lap in Q3 was just enough to hold off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.01s with Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Pérez fourth on the grid behind Carlos Sainz Jr.
SUZUKA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 08: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 stops in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 08, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images ) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
MAX VERSTAPPEN…
“It was pretty incredible to drive here again, especially in qualifying when you are on low fuel, these cars really come alive through the first sectors. I am really happy to be on pole and in general, just super happy to be back here in Japan. During qualifying, I lost a part of the duct from the car in my final lap so that’s why I couldn’t really improve, nevertheless the first lap was good enough. It will be interesting to see what the weather does tomorrow, there may be rain during the race, I am quite confident that we have a good race car so let’s see what we can do. I’m not thinking about the championship still, I’m just taking it day by day. The most important thing is that we have a competitive car, and we had that today in qualifying. We still need that perfect race.”
SUZUKA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 08: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 in the Pitlane during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 08, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images ) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
SERGIO PEREZ…
“It wasn’t a great day for me in qualifying but we will try everything we possibly can for tomorrow. It doesn’t change my life much if I am third or fourth, the most important thing is that we have a strong race car and we are able to progress through the field. I have to push tomorrow to be in contention and I have to be in the mix. I believe I can be strong in the race, so I am massively looking forward to it. I think it’s too early to predict the weather because it can change so rapidly here, the rain could come at any moment in the race or it might hit earlier. I think strategy will play a role tomorrow and if I am able to get a Ferrari at the start it would be good. You have to be quick around here and the degradation is pretty high so I think it will come down to who has the better pace.”