World champion Max Verstappen creates the best conditions for his premature title defense in Formula 1. Before the Japanese Grand Prix, the Dutchman secures pole position in front of the two Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz and is the favorite in Sunday's race.
World Champion Max Verstappen has secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, giving him the best chance of winning the title early. The Dutchman in the Red Bull set the fastest lap in Suzuka's qualifying session of 1:29.304 minutes, just ten-thousandths of a second faster than Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. His teammate Carlos Sainz finished third.
In the race on Sunday (7 a.m. CET/Sky), Verstappen can secure his second world title prematurely on his own: if he wins and also gets the bonus point for the fastest race lap, the result of the pursuers is irrelevant. Only Leclerc and Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez can theoretically catch the Dutchman five races before the end, Perez will start from fourth place on Sunday. Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin made it into the last qualifying section by a hair's breadth by a hair's breadth by three thousandths, he will start his last Suzuka Grand Prix from ninth place.
Mick Schumacher showed an improved performance after his very disappointing Friday, but only got 15th place on the grid for his Suzuka debut. In the first free practice session the day before, he crashed after a driving error, the chassis of his Haas had to be changed, and he missed the second session . On the track, which was still unfamiliar to him, he made it straight into the second section in qualifying, his teammate Kevin Magnussen (18th) didn't succeed. Schumacher still has to recommend Haas for a contract for 2023 and hopes for points in Suzuka.
The weather could play a decisive role on Sunday. It rained continuously on Friday, but remained dry on Saturday. The race is likely to take place on a wet track again, which could change the balance of power. Schumacher's Haas, for example, looked much more competitive in Japan when it rained.
However, Verstappen, who has a 104-point lead over Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and 106 over his teammate Sergio Perez, can secure his second title early on even without a win and with some support. To do this, he has to get eight points more than Leclerc and six more than Perez.
- Verstappen wins and gets the extra point for the fastest race lap. The performance of the competitors then plays no role.
- Verstappen wins and misses the fastest race lap. Leclerc is third at most, Perez is second at most.
- Verstappen is second. Leclerc is fifth at most, Perez fourth at most, and neither of the two pursuers sets the fastest race lap.
- Verstappen is third. Leclerc is seventh at most, Perez sixth at most. In this case, the fastest race lap is irrelevant.
- Verstappen is fourth. Leclerc is a maximum of eighth, Perez a maximum of seventh, and neither of the two pursuers achieves the fastest lap of the race.
- Verstappen is fifth. Leclerc is a maximum of ninth, Perez a maximum of eighth, and neither of the two pursuers achieves the fastest lap of the race.
- Verstappen is sixth and sets the fastest race lap. Leclerc is tenth at most, Perez ninth at most.
- Verstappen is sixth and does not set the fastest race lap. Leclerc remains without points. Perez finished ninth at most and missed the fastest race lap.
