Formula 1 in Japan
Quali drama in Japan: Verstappen strikes back
Updated on 05.04.2025 – 9:26 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Qualifying in Suzuka is once again dominated by the British traditional racing team of McLaren over long distances. But then the world champion counters – the run becomes a thriller.
What a finish in qualifying at the great price of Japan: World champion Max Verstappen secured the pole position for the race on Sunday (from 7 a.m. in the live ticker at T-online). The Red Bull Pilot took the top in front of the large rival Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri (McLaren) with its last qualifying round, which took second and third place.
It is the Dutchman’s first pole in the current season, Norris (in Australia) and Piatri (in Shanghai) were still able to secure themselves on the first two racing weekends.
“We gave the best for the best balance, the last round was full throttle. I was at the limit, maybe a little bit over it,” said Verstappen. His engineer Gianpiero Lambiase sparked: “That was pure class!”
Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko praised Verstappen in the highest tones. The team changed the car in some places, and “then the Verstappen factor came, he hit a round that we did not think possible,” he said at Sky. Verstappen is “an absolute phenomenon”.
The Emmerich Nico Hülkenberg had to be satisfied with 16th place, his Brazilian teammate Gabriel Bortoleto took 17th place. The result is “no surprise,” said Hülkenberg at Sky: “It is difficult to find the harmony. Due to the wind, which shot by 180 degrees compared to the previous day, the car is a bit bitchier and more difficult to drive.”
Local hero Yuki Tsunoda drove the 15th place in his first qualifying as a red bull pilot. Liam Lawson (New Zealand), who had to clear his cockpit at Red Bull for Tsunoda, was a little faster than the Japanese with his comeback for the Racing Bulls.
The Rookie Jack Doohan, which is under pressure, did not succeed in the hoped -for liberation. The Australian, who had severely damaged his alpine racing car in the second training session in a violent accident, became only 19th and thus missed a good result that would be important for his future in Formula 1. It persists that Alpine wants to replace the 22-year-old with the Argentine Franco Colapinto promptly.