Max Verstappen (NLD)
Max Verstappen (NLD)

How qualifying for the F1 Japanese Grand Prix unfolded

Max Verstappen earns pole position at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix.

The big news is that Pierre Gasly will drive for Alpine in F1 2023, while Nyck de Vries will drive for AlphaTauri.

This is how it happened...

07:49

Q3 is now underway!

07:47
07:41

Out in Q2: Ricciardo, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou and Schumacher. 

07:41

Norris goes fifth as Russell drops to 11th.

07:40

Vettel goes fifth in the Aston Martin. Mighty.

A lot of improvements coming.

07:39

Time for the final runs in Q2...

07:33

In the drop-zone: Norris, Vettel, Zhou, Schumacher and Tsunoda.

07:32

Ricciardo goes fifth - he's looking very strong at Suzuka.

07:31

Verstappen goes fastest overall, 0.098s ahead of the field.

07:31

Perez slots into third, 0.2s off.

07:30

All 15 cars are now on track.

07:29

Sainz goes quickest with a 1m30.444s - a tenth slower than he managed in Q1.

07:26

Ferraris are out there on used softs.

07:25

Q2 is now underway!

07:19

Out in Q1: Albon, Gasly, Magnussen, Stroll and Latifi.

07:18

Vettel goes tenth! Good lap from the four-time champion.

07:16

Everyone out on track except the top five - Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc, Alonso and Perez.

07:15

Sixth and eighth for the Mercedes drivers. They don't look too quick here.

07:14

Albon has his time deleted for track limits. He's dropped down to P20.

07:12

In the drop-zone currently: Russell, Magnussen, Vettel, Hamilton and Latifi.

07:11

Strong pace from the Alpines as Alonso goes fourth. Only 0.3s off.

07:09

Ricciardo goes fifth, 0.6s ahead of his teammate.

While Leclerc's first time of the day puts him third, 0.178s off.

07:09

Sainz slots into second, a tenth off Verstappen, Nice and close at the front.

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari F1-75. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Qualifying
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari F1-75. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18,…

07:08

Perez goes 0.8s clear of Norris at the top of the timesheets.

Verstappen finds more time - 0.4s quicker than his teammate.

07:07

Norris goes 0.2s quicker than Tsunoda at the top of the timesheets.

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