April 5, 2025
Max Verstappen takes poll for the 4th straight year in Japan
Yesterday’s second practice session was quite the chaotic and dramatic event, that saw four red flags shown and just twenty minutes of track time throughout the session.
Rookie Jack Doohan totaled his Alpine when he forgot to close his DRS system, and hurtled hard into the crash barrier, emerging thankfully unscathed. Two-time world champion found himself beached in the gravel traps and two separate fires broke out in the grass. Quite the eventful practice session, you might say.
See Also: Chaotic practice session ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix
Due to the fires that had broken out during yesterdays practice sessions, stewards prepared for the eventuality of further fires… by filling buckets, inverted traffic cones, cooking pots and any other receptacle that can hold water and strategically placing them about the course. Just in case a fire might break out.
The idea of cutting the grass was proposed but it would apparently take three full days to cut all the grass around the circuit – and with the high probability of rain over night, leading up to tomorrow’s Grand Prix – this was their best idea.
Doohan was among the first drivers out on track for today’s third practice session – which was again dominated by the McLaren’s, with Norris setting the fastest time ahead of team mate Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russel.
Again, there two red flagged incidents for fires that had broken out in the grass from sparks coming off the bottoms of the cars. Japan had a fairly mild winter which, it would seem, has lead to dry grass that is highly combustible. This year, Suzuka is earlier on the calendar than usual and is providing new challenges for everyone involved.
On to Qualifying
Q1
Isack Hadjar had issues with his seat belt, which is not only unsafe, but at the speed these cars move at and with that much geforce, the driver will be bounced about inside the cockpit. This was the same issue that Hadjar suffered with early today in practice and through radio transmissions, Hadjar alerted his team that the issue was still persistent.
After returning to the pits for an adjustment, that aparently didn’t help the situation, Hadjar was able to buckle down and move of the elimination zone and put himself into the second session
Lance Stroll set the worst time on the grid, following an exit due to a tail wind that sent him into the gravel trap. As a result, he’ll start tomorrow’s Grand Prix from last place.
Piastri goes fastest as the McLaren’s continue to dominate the weekend.
Eliminated: Esteban Ocon, Jack Doohan, Niko Hulkenburg, Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto
Q2
Norris continued to impress, as both McLaren’s look strong.
Yet another red flag was issued with eight and a half minutes to go in the second qualifying session due to a grass fire, once again. Each fire has been at a different location. This time, unlike during the practice sessions, the clock is stopped while stewards go out and extinguish the fires. However, anyone that was on a hot lap has to abandon their run and await the all-clear to return to the circuit.
Carlos Sainz was noted for impeding Lewis Hamilton although a penalty probably wouldn’t much as Sainz was eliminated anyway, while Hamilton goes through to the final qualifying session regardless.
Liam Lawson goes just slightly faster that Yuki Tsunoda which will only fuel the fires over at Red Bull. The two drivers swapped seats following the Chinese Grand Prix and all eyes will be following what may become a rivalry between these two drivers.
Eliminated: Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly
Q3
Ten cars remain going into the final session, all gunning for the best possible starting positing for tomorrow’s race. Max Verstappen has taken pole at Suzuka for the last three years but will need to dig deep to better the McLaren’s today.
Verstappen did hold provisional pole briefly, but was soon bested by Oscar Piastri. However, on his second run, Norris snatched provisional pole from his team mate – but Verstappen’s second run puts him back in front, and on pole for the fourth straight year.
It would seem that Hadjar’s discomfort was figured out, as the rookie put up impressive times, out-qualifying his new team mate and putting himself seventh
Starting formation for tomorrow’s race
1st – Max Verstappen
2nd – Lando Norris
3rd – Oscar Piastri
4th – Charles Leclerc
5th – George Russell
6th – Kimi Antonelli
7th – Isack Hadjar
8th – Lewis Hamilton
9th – Alex Albon
10th – Oliver Bearman
11th – Pierre Gasly
12th – Carlos Sainz
13th – Fernando Alonso
14th – Liam Lawson
15th – Yuki Tsunoda
16th – Nico Hulkenberg
17th – Gabriel Bortoleto
18th – Esteban Ocon
19th – Jack Doohan
20th – Lance Stroll
Read More:
>> Red Bull officially switches Lawson and Tsunoda
>> Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from Chinese Grand Prix
>> McLaren win Constructors title in Abu Dhabi
Max Verstappen takes the poll ahead of tomorrow’s race, with Lando Norris besides him on the front row – rain or shine, this should be quiet the race!
With qualifying now complete, we are ready to go racing tomorrow – with rain potentially on the horizon, and already incident-filled weekend, all signs point towards this being a good race.
