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Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.
The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.
His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.
Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan. The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.
Follow live updates from the Japanese Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix!
Verstappen wins in Suzuka for the third year in a row!
Sergio Perez comes home in second for Red Bull’s third one-two finish of the season!
Carlos Sainz finishes on the podium in third for Ferrari!
Verstappen: “Yes! A lovely race, the car felt better throughout the race. Really good result. Great team result, really well done.”
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 08:00
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Final lap (Lap 53/53)
Inevitable now for the Red Bull driver.
Further back, George Russell does take seventh from Oscar Piastri down the main straight!
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:58
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen sets fastest lap (Lap 52/53)
We know how much Verstappen values that extra point – and he now holds the fastest lap!
His gap to Perez in 13 seconds. Another comfortable day for the reigning world champion.
3-10: Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Tsunoda
Alonso in sixth playing a clever game here, dropping back slightly to give Piastri some DRS in order to keep the McLaren ahead of the Mercedes on medium tyres.
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:57
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: George Russell and Oscar Piastri touch! (Lap 50/53)
Russell tries a move on Piastri down the inside of the final chicane for seventh place, with the McLaren staying in front after cutting the corner!
Piastri: “He didn’t give me anywhere to go in the chicane, I had to cut.”
Race control are looking into it.
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:55
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz is up to third (Lap 47/53)
Sainz up into the podium places!
He overtakes Norris down the main straight and two laps later, Leclerc is his next victim!
Tough on Leclerc, who’s made his one-stop strategy work given his starting position of eighth, but he doesn’t fight it given the pace disadvantage.
Out in front, Verstappen has an 11-second lead fo Perez.
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Tsunoda
Can Tsunoda hold onto 10th place from Lance Stroll in 11th?
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:48
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Logan Sargeant in the gravel! (Lap 43/53)
Brief yellow flags in Degna 1 as Sargeant goes wide and into the gravel!
He reverses his way precariously back onto the track – but he is now dead-last.
After Albon’s crash on lap one, a day to forget it seems for Williams.
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:42
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 41/53)
Mercedes do pit Hamilton too – 3.3 secs – and comes out in ninth and nine seconds behind Russell in eighth.
Sainz in fifth is the man to watch, with fresher hard tyres. He is 2.7 secs behind Norris, but could well be eyeing up a podium.
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:39
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: George Russell pits (Lap 39/53)
Slight change of tack for Russell at least, changing from a one-stop to a two-stop and switching to mediums.
Hamilton: “Tyres are still good.”
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Norris, Sainz, Hamilton, Alonso, Piastri, Russell, Tsunoda
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:36
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz pits (Lap 37/53)
No point in keeping the Spaniard out there, given he has to pit again.
The last race winner Sainz pits – 2.9 sec stop – and comes out behind Lewis Hamilton in seventh.
But is obviously on much fresher tyres.
So Max Verstappen retakes the lead with a seven-second lead to Sergio Perez in second.
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:33
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Verstappen and Perez pit (Lap 36/53)
Red Bull have gone for it now then, with Verstappen dropping to second behind Carlos Sainz – but the Ferrari man has to pit again.
Perez is third, getting past Norris and Leclerc with ease.
Top-10: Sainz, Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Hamilton, Alonso, Piastri, Tsunoda
Kieran Jackson7 April 2024 07:31
