P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull secured a 1-2 qualifying finish in Japan as Helmut Marko voiced relief over Charles Leclerc’s lacklustre result following his strong practice pace.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko felt relief after Charles Leclerc’s challenging qualifying session in Japan, given his strong long-run pace on Friday. Leclerc finished in eighth place, while Red Bull locked out the front row with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Ferrari aimed to pressure Red Bull after their recent Grand Prix win but struggled in qualifying, with Carlos Sainz in fourth place behind Verstappen. Marko initially had concerns about Leclerc’s pace but found reassurance when his performance fell short in the session. Red Bull’s successful qualifying, with Perez narrowly behind Verstappen, showed the effectiveness of their recent upgrades, leading Marko to reminisce about Perez’s past successes in Formula 1 qualifications.
