F1 2024 Japan Grand Prix LIVE: FP3 results, qualifying start time ...
F1 latest updates as qualifying gets underway at the Japanese Grand Prix at the popular Suzuka circuit
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Formula 1 returns to Asia this weekend as Suzuka plays host to the Japanese Grand Prix and the fourth race of the 2024 season.
The last grand prix in Australia threw up some surprises, with Max Verstappen retiring early on and Lewis Hamilton bowing out due to a mechanical failure too. Carlos Sainz picked up a brilliant victory for Ferrari, with team-mate Charles Leclerc securing a one-two finish for the Scuderia.
Lando Norris finished third to pick up McLaren’s first podium of the season, while Mercedes endured their first double DNF in five years after George Russell’s late crash, which resulted in Fernando Alonso’s post-race penalty.
With Red Bull’s F1 win-streak broken, Verstappen now only has a four-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship to Leclerc - but will normal service resume this weekend at one of the sport’s most iconic and popular tracks?
Follow live updates from the Japanese Grand Prix with The Independent
“It was quite close at the end. When you want to go to the limit, it doesn’t always work out - most important to be on pole. Overall, a very good day. Tomorrow is what counts.
“It’s great as a team to be P1 and P2, hopefully we can keep that going.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:27
“We hooked it in all together but unfortunately just not enough.
“We’ve been really close all weekend, when you’re in that little margins, everything can make a difference. We are in a good position for tomorrow.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:19
“We’ve had a good car all weekend, we’re trying to catch up to the two Red Bulls. The team is doing a good job, the hard work is paying off slowly.
“Today is a good start, but we go to tomorrow.”
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:13
1) Max Verstappen
2) Sergio Perez
3) Lando Norris
4) Carlos Sainz
5) Fernando Alonso
6) Oscar Piastri
7) Lewis Hamilton
8) Charles Leclerc
9) George Russell
10) Yuki Tsunoda
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:08
It was close... but Max Verstappen has done it! A 1:28:197 puts him 0.066 secs quicker than team-mate Sergio Perez, who put in a decent lap!
Lando Norris stays third, two-tenths off, with Carlos Sainz fourth and Fernando Alonso fifth.
6-10: Piastri, Hamilton, Leclerc, Russell, Tsunoda
Where did Mercedes’ pace go?
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 08:04
And he went quickest in sector two! But only P7 at best for the Ferrari!
“That’s the best I can do. Honestly, I don’t get it!”
3:00 to go. Can anyone catch Max Verstappen’s pole-setting time?
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 07:58
Bono: “That’s half-a-second to Verstappen.”
Hamilton: “Where’s that half-a-second man?”
The head scratching continues at Mercedes...
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 07:57
“I don’t know what to do to go faster mate, I thought it was a good lap.”
P7 at the moment. A tenth to P4.
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 07:56
Verstappen on provisional pole with a 1:28:240, with Lando Norris producing a special lap to go P2 - two-tenths off the Red Bull!
Sergio Perez P3, with Carlos Sainz in fourth and Oscar Piastri fifth.
6-10: Hamilton, Alonso, Russell, Tsunoda, Leclerc (no time)
Now Charles Leclerc heads out for what will be one lap on new tyres with no traffic either!
5:00 to go.
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 07:55
Here we go then with the top-10 shootout - it looks Max Verstappen’s to lose!
10 drivers involved: Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso, Tsunoda, Norris, Piastri, Sainz, Leclerc
And they’re all out from the off aside from Leclerc and Tsunoda!
Kieran Jackson6 April 2024 07:47
