P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen took pole position for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix but faced close pressure from his on-form Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix with a strong performance, closely pursued by his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. Perez stayed within striking distance of Verstappen throughout the qualifying sessions but fell just short, finishing 0.023s behind. Verstappen expressed some discomfort with the RB20 around Suzuka, but managed to extend his gap over Perez on his final run. Lando Norris claimed third on the grid, with Carlos Sainz in fourth and Leclerc struggling in eighth. Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri, and Lewis Hamilton also had solid qualifying performances. Yuki Tsunoda outpaced Daniel Ricciardo once again and earned a spot in Q3 alongside Nico Hulkenberg and Valtteri Bottas, who finished 10th and 13th respectively. Lance Stroll faced disappointment with a Q1 exit, while the Alpine team celebrated Esteban Ocon’s Q2 appearance. Pierre Gasly, Kevin Magnussen, and Logan Sargeant rounded out the grid.
