Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 06, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson | Getty Images)
SUZUKA, Japan— With the opening practices led by Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the rear-view mirror, Formula 1 teams turned their attention to the final practice and qualifying sessions to set the grid for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix. Red Bull looked to be the leading contender for the weekend, having set the quickest times during all of the dry sessions, yet Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren hoped to keep it close.
After a rainy second practice that saw a handful of teams not even set a time, drier conditions were a massive welcome for the grid as they prepared for the final practice. As the clock started to wind down, numerous teams took to the track to gather data that they usually would have grabbed in the previous practice yet could not due to the rain.
The final practice was not without incident as the Haas of Kevin Magnussen went off track and spun at the Hairpin, going into the gravel. A short time later, the Visa Cash App RB of Daniel Ricciardo did a 360-spin out of Turn 2 but kept going. The Williams of Logan Sargeant returned to the track in the final practice following repairs overnight, a welcome sight for the team without a spare chassis.
After the opening runs, teams turned to the Soft compound tires to work on their qualifying trim ahead of the qualifying rounds. Verstappen and Perez rocketed to the top of the leaderboards, with the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton slotting in behind. They were both optimistic about the progress of their cars over the weekend. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin ranked in the top five on the timing charts.
Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 06, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson | Getty Images)
Teams then turned their attention to nailing down their setups ahead of qualifying in what was shaping up to be a close battle for pole position between teammates Verstappen and Perez.
The dry conditions continued as the pit lights went green to begin the first qualifying round. The Haas of Magnussen was the lone car on track getting settled in with a new setup following his spin during the final practice. But it was not long before the rest of the grid started to queue up at the end of the pitlane, which included a hairy moment between the McLaren of Piastri and the Mercedes of Russell. The stewards reviewed that incident, and Russell was fined for driving unsafely in the pit lane.
Verstappen stormed to the top of the timing charts as the grid took their opening laps, closely followed by his Red Bull teammate, Perez. Alonso soon impressively split the Red Bulls as they completed their first runs. Second runs were about to begin after a short lull in the action. The Top 8, outside of McLaren’s Lando Norris, all sat out as teams looked to solidify their spot in the second round. The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc looked to be struggling but bumped up to the fourth fastest time on his second run.
As the clock winded down, drivers such as the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg and the Visa Cash App RB of Ricciardo both made the improvements to their times as they needed, yet bumped out the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, a surprising result considering where his teammate was positioned on the timing charts. The Alpine of Pierre Gasly joined Stroll, the other Haas of Magnussen, the Williams of Sargeant and the Stake Sauber of Zhou Guanyu in missing the second round.
The second round began as both Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez immediately took to the track to start their first session runs. They were soon greeted by the rest of the grid when they came back around. However, the increased on-track traffic did not bother them as they were comfortably at the top of the timing charts with razor-thin margins and the McLaren of Norris close behind.
In the waning moments, it became another close battle for who would make it to the final round. The fight was on for the final three positions as the Top 7 stayed in their garages, comfortable with their times. Hulkenberg, who was having troubles with track limits, initially slotted into the Top 10 but was soon pushed out by Ricciardo. That did not last long as Yuki Tsunoda, the other Visa Cash App RB car, claimed a spot in the final round at his home track.
The former Renault teammates of Ricciardo and Hulkenberg were joined by the Stake Sauber of Valtteri Bottas, the Williams of Alex Albon and the Alpine of Esteban Ocon on the outside looking in.
The final round was soon upon the remaining 10 cars. Every car but Tsunoda and Leclerc had two sets of brand-new Soft compound tires. Mercedes sent out Hamilton and Russell first, but it was the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez, sandwiched by Norris, who had set the benchmark for the time to beat for the end of the session.
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 06, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason | Getty Images)
In the final moments, every car but Leclerc, who had made a run on his lone pair of Soft tires on a clean track, was set out on their final set of Soft tires to hopefully make improvements to their times to set the Top 10 for the Japanese Grand Prix. Perez got out in front of Verstappen and looked to be improving his time, yet fell short of his teammate, who made a further improvement to solidify the pole, just 0.066 seconds ahead of Perez. Norris brought his McLaren around for the third-fastest time, just behind the Red Bulls.
Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari had to settle for fourth ahead of Aston Martin’s Alonso, rounding out the Top 5. Piastri settled for sixth, ahead of Hamilton, who bumped Leclerc to eighth. Russell and Tsunoda rounded out the Top 10.
Teams now prepare for the Japanese Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen looking to pick up another victory and turn things around from the last race in Australia. With his teammate Sergio Perez right behind him and a close battle between McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes, it is shaping up to be a possibly close battle for the victory and podium by the time all things are said and done.
