F1 Japanese Grand Prix LIVE: Race results as Max Verstappen wins after Daniel Ricciardo crash
Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.
The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.
His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.
Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan. The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.
Follow live updates from the Japanese Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix; Perez 2nd; Sainz 3rd
Click HERE for the top-10
RED FLAG! Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon crash (Lap 1/53)
READ MORE: Daniel Ricciardo in heavy crash with Alex Albon on first lap of Japanese Grand Prix
READ: Charles Leclerc fumes at Ferrari mishap in Japan: ‘What are we doing?’
INTERVIEW: Sky F1’s Bernie Collins on her unorthodox career in Formula 1
TOP-10 AT THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
08:06 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen
2. Sergio Perez
3. Carlos Sainz
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Lando Norris
6. Fernando Alonso
7. George Russell
8. Oscar Piastri
9. Lewis Hamilton
10. Yuki Tsunoda
A point for Yuki Tsunoda at his home race!
Daniel Ricciardo after his crash:
09:42 , Kieran Jackson
“It was all very much under a racing incident. Yuki and myself struggled a lot on the medium at the start. Got away poorly and cars around us ate us up.
“I could see an Aston on the outside and to be honest, I didn’t see Alex. Everyone got bottled up in turn three. Not the way you want Sunday to go. In hindsight, we should have put a soft on. That’s what happens.”
Race report: Max Verstappen coasts to victory in Japan after Daniel Ricciardo crashes out
09:29 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen returned to winning ways in dominant fashion as the world champion cruised to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Having retired last time out in Australia, it was normal service resumed for the Dutchman at Suzuka where he led home a Red Bull one-two as Sergio Perez finished second.
Verstappen twice led into the first corner off the line after the race was restarted following a first-lap incident.
From there he controlled the pace of the race and the result never looked in doubt, with Verstappen taking the chequered flag and the fastest lap to open up a 13-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship as he aims for a fourth successive title.
George Russell after coming home in P7:
09:15 , Kieran Jackson
"Fernando playing games? That's new!" 😂
George reacts to a hard-fought P7 💪 pic.twitter.com/zU27EXSLLv— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 7, 2024
Lewis Hamilton sharply hits out at Mercedes strategy in Japanese Grand Prix
09:06 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton was left feeling exasperated during Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, imploring midway through the race for his Mercedes team to “change the strategy.”
Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton, who joins Ferrari next year, finished ninth at Suzuka and again behind team-mate George Russell – who finished seventh.
Mercedes opted for a bold tyre strategy following the early red flag, switching to a hard tyre as they attempted to go for a one-stop strategy after the restart.
However, with cars comfortably overtaking both Hamilton and Russell, the 39-year-old was unhappy with the direction his team took, stating sharply over team radio: “Change the strategy!”
Lewis Hamilton sharply hits out at Mercedes strategy in Japan
Lando Norris after finishing fifth:
08:52 , Kieran Jackson
“It was a tough race, compared to the Ferraris - not enough. It doesn’t feel great when you start third and go backwards, fighting a losing battle against these guys. It’s hard to fight on a track like this.
We got the maximum points behind these guys that we could do.
Charles did a good job to go that far on one set of tyres. Surprised we box as early as we did, just copied what the Ferraris did. Maybe a discussion on what we could’ve done for P4.
Feel close to Ferrari? “No, no. Ferrari clearly ahead. There’s no reason why we should be ahead. So no.”
Time for the podium!
08:45 , Kieran Jackson
The familiar tune - though we didn’t have it two weeks ago - rings out in Suzuka of the Dutch and Austrian national anthems!
Verstappen’s 57th victory in F1.
Nice moment for Yuki Tsunoda after his top-10 finish:
08:35 , Kieran Jackson
Yuki finishes in the points! 👏
The home favourite comes home in P10 to claim the final point for RB 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/FqMlEhMYca— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 7, 2024
Max Verstappen after finishing first:
08:30 , Kieran Jackson
“It was a very nice. The critical bit was the start. Everything went really well, couldn’t have been any better.
“Very happy to be back on top, fantastic of course to win here.
On China: “Quite hectic. We haven’t been there for a while, only one practice session to get into it.”
Sergio Perez after finishing second:
08:20 , Kieran Jackson
“A good weekend for the team. Doing the restart again, it’s hard to do the focus. My start was better but not enough to get Max. We were undercut by Lando so then had to push through the medium stint.
“We are in a good momentum. It’s been a good weekend.”
Carlos Sainz after finishing third:
08:13 , Kieran Jackson
“I had a good race. It was quite tough out there with the degradation. I had to overtake a lot of cars out there. I could finish my moves but it was tough.
“I thought it’d be difficult to get into P3. Difficult to follow. In the end, we managed.
“China will be a tough weekend for everyone. Sprint for a track we haven’t been in for five years will be a challenge.”
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix!
08:00 , Kieran Jackson
Verstappen wins in Suzuka for the third year in a row!
Sergio Perez comes home in second for Red Bull’s third one-two finish of the season!
Carlos Sainz finishes on the podium in third for Ferrari!
Verstappen: “Yes! A lovely race, the car felt better throughout the race. Really good result. Great team result, really well done.”
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Final lap (Lap 53/53)
07:58 , Kieran Jackson
Inevitable now for the Red Bull driver.
Further back, George Russell does take seventh from Oscar Piastri down the main straight!
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen sets fastest lap (Lap 52/53)
07:57 , Kieran Jackson
We know how much Verstappen values that extra point - and he now holds the fastest lap!
His gap to Perez in 13 seconds. Another comfortable day for the reigning world champion.
3-10: Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Tsunoda
Alonso in sixth playing a clever game here, dropping back slightly to give Piastri some DRS in order to keep the McLaren ahead of the Mercedes on medium tyres.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: George Russell and Oscar Piastri touch! (Lap 50/53)
07:55 , Kieran Jackson
Russell tries a move on Piastri down the inside of the final chicane for seventh place, with the McLaren staying in front after cutting the corner!
Piastri: “He didn’t give me anywhere to go in the chicane, I had to cut.”
Race control are looking into it.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz is up to third (Lap 47/53)
07:48 , Kieran Jackson
Sainz up into the podium places!
He overtakes Norris down the main straight and two laps later, Leclerc is his next victim!
Tough on Leclerc, who’s made his one-stop strategy work given his starting position of eighth, but he doesn’t fight it given the pace disadvantage.
Out in front, Verstappen has an 11-second lead fo Perez.
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Tsunoda
Can Tsunoda hold onto 10th place from Lance Stroll in 11th?
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Logan Sargeant in the gravel! (Lap 43/53)
07:42 , Kieran Jackson
Brief yellow flags in Degna 1 as Sargeant goes wide and into the gravel!
He reverses his way precariously back onto the track - but he is now dead-last.
After Albon’s crash on lap one, a day to forget it seems for Williams.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 41/53)
07:39 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes do pit Hamilton too - 3.3 secs - and comes out in ninth and nine seconds behind Russell in eighth.
Sainz in fifth is the man to watch, with fresher hard tyres. He is 2.7 secs behind Norris, but could well be eyeing up a podium.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: George Russell pits (Lap 39/53)
07:36 , Kieran Jackson
Slight change of tack for Russell at least, changing from a one-stop to a two-stop and switching to mediums.
He drops to P9.
Hamilton: “Tyres are still good.”
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Norris, Sainz, Hamilton, Alonso, Piastri, Russell, Tsunoda
Under 15 laps to go...
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz pits (Lap 37/53)
07:33 , Kieran Jackson
No point in keeping the Spaniard out there, given he has to pit again.
The last race winner Sainz pits - 2.9 sec stop - and comes out behind Lewis Hamilton in seventh.
But is obviously on much fresher tyres.
So Max Verstappen retakes the lead with a seven-second lead to Sergio Perez in second.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Verstappen and Perez pit (Lap 36/53)
07:31 , Kieran Jackson
Red Bull have gone for it now then, with Verstappen dropping to second behind Carlos Sainz - but the Ferrari man has to pit again.
Perez is third, getting past Norris and Leclerc with ease.
Top-10: Sainz, Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Hamilton, Alonso, Piastri, Tsunoda
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Norris passes Russell (Lap 29/53)
07:20 , Kieran Jackson
Hell of a move from Lando, around the outside at turn one of the Mercedes!
He’s up to seventh - next up is Charles Leclerc.
Top-five all have to pit again - leader Max Verstappen has a 10-second lead to Sergio Perez.
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Alonso, Piastri, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Hamilton, Hulkenberg
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Leclerc goes wide (Lap 28/53)
07:18 , Kieran Jackson
Leclerc drops second place to Sergio Perez after running wide - and almost into the gravel!
Then Ferrari pit him, with Norris right behind him into the pits too for a second stop.
Norris stays behind Leclerc and is also behind George Russell on track...
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Mercedes pit their drivers (Lap 24/53)
07:14 , Kieran Jackson
First Russell, then Hamilton. They need to make the one-stop stick, with both on hard tyres and Russell in eighth and Hamilton ninth.
Leclerc, meanwhile, holding off Sergio Perez to keep second for the time being.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen overtakes Charles Leclerc (Lap 21/53)
07:08 , Kieran Jackson
That was easy for the Red Bull on the main straight, with the Ferrari unable to stop Verstappen with DRS and on superior tyres.
Verstappen back out in front. Now, when will Leclerc pit?
Hamilton, getting passed by cars meanwhile, urges Mercedes to “change their strategy!”
Bono: “Yep, we’re just looking for the pit window.”
Don’t think the one-stopper was the right move for the Silver Arrows...
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc leads (Lap 20/53)
07:04 , Kieran Jackson
So Leclerc leads by 2.1 secs to Verstappen but has not pitted.
Yet Norris is just 2.2 secs behind Verstappen in third and has pitted - and is on hard tyres. Could he go all the way to the end of the race?
4-10: Perez, Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Alono, Piastri, Magnussen
Hamilton: “Tyres are dropping off, front right is dead.”
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen pits (Lap 17/53)
07:01 , Kieran Jackson
A lap after his team-mate, Max Verstappen pits onto new mediums and comes out in third - behind Leclerc and Russell - before the Red Bull quickly passes the Mercedes.
And then Sergio Perez overtakes Lewis Hamilton down the inside of 130R - what a move!
Top-10 a bit jumbled up now with those who’ve pitted and those who haven’t...
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Hamilton and Russell swap positions (Lap 15/53)
06:56 , Kieran Jackson
With Russell right on the gearbox of Hamilton, the elder statesman asks if he should let Russell by - and Mercedes confirm it.
Russell moves up to fifth.
Zhou Guanyu meanwhile, who was running way down in last place, has retired due to a gearbox issue for the Sauber driver.
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Magnussen
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri pits (Lap 14/53)
06:54 , Kieran Jackson
McLaren pitting their men early, with Piastri back out in 11th as Norris climbs to 8th.
Ferrari are going to hold out.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Lando Norris pits (Lap 12/53)
06:52 , Kieran Jackson
Interesting call.
Norris pits from third place, switching to hard tyres, and comes out in clean air in 10th.
Will Ferrari, for Carlos Sainz in fourth, box straight away or hold out?
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: George Russell.. (Lap 10/53)
06:49 , Kieran Jackson
“The steering is starting to feel a bit strange, a lot of variations.”
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen in conversation with his engineer about their front wing, but all seems to be OK.
Gap to Perez is now 3.2 secs.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen beyond DRS at the front (Lap 7/53)
06:44 , Kieran Jackson
With DRS now enabled, Sergio Perez is not within the one-second margin needed for that extra speed boost.
In fact, Perez went wide in sector one - and backed out, but lost a lot of time.
The gap to Verstappen is already 1.8 seconds.
In fact, nobody in the top-10 is within DRS range at the moment.
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Norris, Sainz, Alonso, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Tsunoda
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc moves ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Lap 5/53)
06:41 , Kieran Jackson
With Hamilton on the “slower” hard tyres, Leclerc takes seventh place from Hamilton!
And Yuki Tsunoda has moved up to ninth, ahead of George Russell, before the Mercedes takes the RB down the main straight to take ninth back!
Nico Hulkenberg, meanwhile, has dropped down from 10th to 17th after a dreadful start off the line!
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Lights out! (Lap 4/53)
06:39 , Kieran Jackson
They’re all away smoothly this time, with Max Verstappen retaining his lead very comfortably from Sergio Perez!
No change in the order among the top-10 - all retain position after the first lap from the restart.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Mercedes starting on hard tyres
06:36 , Kieran Jackson
Interesting. Can they get away with just one stop, with one more set of hard tyres?
We shall see!
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Formation lap No 2!
06:34 , Kieran Jackson
So once again, Max Verstappen leads the now 18-driver pack around for a lap from the pit lane.
It will be a standing start.
Here’s the new order:
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) Nico Hulkenberg
11) Valtteri Bottas
12) Yuki Tsunoda
13) Esteban Ocon
14) Pierre Gasly
15) Lance Stroll
16) Kevin Magnussen
17) Logan Sargeant
18) Zhou Guanyu
READ MORE: Daniel Ricciardo in heavy crash with Alex Albon on first lap of Japanese Grand Prix
06:31 , Kieran Jackson
Daniel Ricciardo retired a matter of seconds into Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix after a heavy crash involving Alex Albon at Suzuka.
Ricciardo, starting 11th on the grid, was running ahead of Williams driver Albon coming out of turn one following a good start off the line.
However, Albon dived down the inside at turn two, with Ricciardo’s RB wheel clipping the Williams car and forcing it off track.
Both cars then rapidly slammed into the tyre barrier, resulting in a quick red flag from race control in Japan to stop the race.
Daniel Ricciardo in heavy crash with Alex Albon on first lap of Japanese Grand Prix
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: RACE CONTROL UPDATE
06:22 , Kieran Jackson
FIA: The race will resume at 6:32 am (BST).
That’s 10 minutes until we get going again in Japan!
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Full replay of incident on-board
06:20 , Kieran Jackson
It’s a hefty shunt for both men isn’t it...
Not ideal for Daniel Ricciardo in particular, who is a man under pressure.
A closer look at Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon's lap one contact 🔎 pic.twitter.com/VpkwCB0T7N
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 7, 2024
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Start grid update
06:16 , Kieran Jackson
Given we went through one sector, positions gained and lost off the line will stay - and so Hulkenberg will start P10 and Tsunoda P12.
No word yet on a restart time.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: RED FLAG
06:15 , Kieran Jackson
It may well be a bit of a wait here - they need to recover both cars and repair the extensive damage to the tyre barrier at turn two!
All remaining 18 cars back on the grid - and it’s likely we’ll revert to the starting grid, given the timing of the red flag.
It’s bad news for Nico Hulkenberg, who had leapt up from 12th to tenth, but relief for home favourite Yuki Tsunoda who may well start in 10th again, having dropped down the order.
Still, we await confirmation from the FIA!
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: RED FLAG!
06:11 , Kieran Jackson
Here’s a first glance at that race start.
IT'S LIGHTS OUT IN JAPAN 🚥
A chaotic start brings out the RED FLAG with contact between Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon - thankfully both drivers confirm they're okay 🟥 pic.twitter.com/HwIu37QWm6— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 7, 2024
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Alex Albon
06:08 , Kieran Jackson
“He just squeezed me, nowhere to go!”
Who’s at fault here? Perhaps a lap one racing incident. Tiny margins resulting in a clash of wheels.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Big crash on lap one!
06:05 , Kieran Jackson
It’s lights out and all the frontrunners get away safely - but there’s been a huge crash further back between Albon and Ricciardo!
Huge crash into the barrier into turn two!
RED FLAG!
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Formation lap!
06:02 , Kieran Jackson
So Max Verstappen leads the pack around the Suzuka track for the formation lap in track temperatures around 40C!
The front four all on medium tyres, with Fernando Alonso intriguingly on a new set of soft tyres.
Everyone from 12th to 17th is also on soft tyres, looking for early overtakes.
Who will lead coming out of turn one here?! It’s almost time!
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: A reminder of the starting grid in Suzuka!
05:58 , Kieran Jackson
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
11) Daniel Ricciardo
12) Nico Hulkenberg
13) Valtteri Bottas
14) Alex Albon
15) Esteban Ocon
16) Lance Stroll
17) Pierre Gasly
18) Kevin Magnussen
19) Logan Sargeant
20) Zhou Guanyu
George Russell:
05:52 , Kieran Jackson
“Nature of F1 at the moment, there will be a fight for podium positions. We’ll have to go for it.”
Bernie Collins: ‘I don’t just represent women in F1 – but engineers too’
05:50 , Kieran Jackson
Exclusive interview by Kieran Jackson
From university in Belfast and the circus of the Formula 1 paddock to the television screen and the world of the media, Bernie Collins’s path to her current role has been unorthodox to say the least. And in some respects, groundbreaking. Regularly the sole woman in a man’s world, the Northern Irish F1 expert has consistently broken the mould, first as an engineer for McLaren and a strategist for Aston Martin to now: a key cog in Sky Sports’ coverage of F1.
This weekend, Collins will be in the Osterley-based studio as part of Sky’s coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix. As she acknowledges, she is a rare breed of pundit: that is, someone from a data-driven background. And in a sport as technical as Formula 1 – perhaps the most statistical-based sport in the British mainstream – her unique perspective has positively tapped into a market previously untouched.
“It’s a story which hasn’t been sold,” says Collins, 38, of her role with Sky. “Even now when I watch other sports, football for example, most pundits are ex-footballers or managers. But teams have a data team and fitness coaches. I think it’s beginning to open up this realisation that all sports have technical areas and people are more interested in the technical side of sports than ever before.”
Full piece below:
Bernie Collins: ‘I don’t just represent women in F1 – but engineers too’
Time for the Japanese national anthem at Suzuka!
05:47 , Kieran Jackson
Performed by the Japanese air force national band.
Carlos Sainz keen to ‘speed up’ 2025 talks in Japan – but where should Ferrari driver go next?
05:42 , Kieran Jackson
Japanese Grand Prix preview
It’s been quite a few months for Carlos Sainz. At the turn of the year, a contract extension at Ferrari seemed a formality. His win in Singapore last September – the only non-Red Bull victory since 2022 – solidified his role at the Scuderia as one half of a strong partnership with Charles Leclerc. In fact, the Spaniard was ready to take the next step and target a championship challenge in the near future.
Cue Lewis Hamilton. Cue appendicitis and a race absence in Saudi Arabia. Downed but undefeated, Sainz’s resilience and skillset came to the fore quite superbly two weeks ago as he overcame all those obstacles in Australia with a terrific victory on the streets of Melbourne, taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s retirement for his third win in F1.
And ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix on the popular Suzuka circuit, the 29-year-old admits that a spot on the grid next year is something he wants sorting as soon as possible. Frankly, he should be a man high in demand.
Carlos Sainz keen to ‘speed up’ 2025 talks – but where should Ferrari driver go next?
Constructor Standings ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix:
05:35 , Kieran Jackson
1. Red Bull - 97 points
2. Ferrari - 93 points
3. McLaren - 55 points
4. Mercedes - 26 points
5. Aston Martin - 25 points
6. RB - 6 points
7. Haas - 4 points
8. Williams - 0 points
9. Kick Sauber - 0 points
10. Alpine - 0 points
Lando Norris speaking before the race:
05:33 , Kieran Jackson
Lando looking to battle Sergio Perez into the first corner 🎯
He starts P3... pic.twitter.com/kyRuKcoqkM— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 7, 2024
A reminder of the starting grid in Japan:
05:29 , Kieran Jackson
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
11) Daniel Ricciardo
12) Nico Hulkenberg
13) Valtteri Bottas
14) Alex Albon
15) Esteban Ocon
16) Lance Stroll
17) Pierre Gasly
18) Kevin Magnussen
19) Logan Sargeant
20) Zhou Guanyu
Lewis Hamilton makes shock Mercedes claim despite poor qualifying
05:24 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton may have only managed to qualify seventh for the Japanese Grand Prix but he insists his Mercedes has not felt better in three years.
The seven-time world champion will start from the fourth row at Suzuka, with team-mate George Russell in ninth.
While from the outside that would suggest Mercedes once again struggled with an underperforming car – like much of the past two years – Hamilton was in good spirits following Saturday’s qualifying.
Having lamented the gap to pole-sitter Max Verstappen over the team radio during the session, he had a more positive outlook in the aftermath.
“The car has been much nicer to drive this weekend… this is the nicest it has felt in three years,” he said. “I think we did a really good job over the last week, just the analysis we’ve done at the factory to get the car into a sweet spot.
Lewis Hamilton makes shock Mercedes claim despite poor qualifying
Driver Standings ahead of the Japanese GP:
05:16 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen - 51 points
2. Charles Leclerc - 47 points
3. Sergio Perez - 46 points
4. Carlos Sainz - 40 points
5. Oscar Piastri - 28 points
6. Lando Norris - 27 points
7. George Russell - 18 points
8. Fernando Alonso - 16 points
9. Lance Stroll - 9 points
10. Lewis Hamilton - 8 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda - 6 points
12. Oliver Bearman - 6 points
13. Nico Hulkenberg - 3 points
14. Kevin Magnussen - 1 point
15. Alex Albon - 0 points
16. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points
18. Esteban Ocon - 0 points
19. Pierre Gasly - 0 points
20. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
Charles Leclerc fumes at Ferrari mishap in Japan: ‘What are we doing?’
05:12 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc was in a state of bemusement prior to qualifying in Japan on Saturday, questioning his Ferrari team’s run-plan at the end of the final practice session.
Leclerc is four points off championship leader Max Verstappen heading into this weekend in Suzuka, following two podiums in the first three races.
Yet on early evidence, Ferrari cannot match the pace of Red Bull this weekend in Japan, with Leclerc unhappy at the Scuderia’s strategy at the end of the third practice session.
Leclerc failed to get a second “push lap” in at the end and was angry that his team kept him in the garage for too long at the end of the one-hour session.
“Honestly, I don’t get it,” Leclerc said over the team radio. “What are we doing to stay in the garage? Oh my god!”
Full piece below:
Charles Leclerc fumes at Ferrari mistake in Japan: ‘What are we doing?’
TOP-10 IN QUALIFYING:
05:05 , Kieran Jackson
1) Max Verstappen - 1:28:197
2) Sergio Perez - +0.066
3) Lando Norris - +0.292
4) Carlos Sainz - +0.485
5) Fernando Alonso - +0.489
6) Oscar Piastri - +0.663
7) Lewis Hamilton - +0.669
8) Charles Leclerc - +0.689
9) George Russell - +0.811
10) Yuki Tsunoda +1.216
Qualifying report: Max Verstappen continues qualifying dominance to take pole position in Japan
05:01 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.
The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.
His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.
Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan.
The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.
Max Verstappen continues qualifying dominance to take pole position in Japan
F1 Japanese Grand Prix LIVE!
04:59 , Kieran Jackson
Good morning - hope you’re just getting out of bed! - and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka!
Max Verstappen is on pole for the fourth time in a row this season, with Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez alongside him on the front row.
Lando Norris starts third, with friend Carlos Sainz alongside him on the second row.
Can anyone stop the Red Bulls in Japan?! Lights out is at 6am (BST)!
Mercedes hit with FIA fine after George Russell pit-lane incident
Saturday 6 April 2024 11:40 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes have been hit with a £4,290 (€5,000) fine for an unsafe pit lane release involving George Russell at the start of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Russell was released right into the path of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who had to steer left to avoid the Mercedes W15.
Piastri said over team radio: “Very dangerous from Russell.”
Mercedes hit with FIA fine after George Russell pit-lane incident
Lewis Hamilton makes shock Mercedes claim despite poor qualifying
Saturday 6 April 2024 10:28 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton may have only managed to qualify seventh for the Japanese Grand Prix but he insists his Mercedes has not felt better in three years.
The seven-time world champion will start from the fourth row at Suzuka, with team-mate George Russell in ninth.
While from the outside that would suggest Mercedes once again struggled with an underperforming car – like much of the past two years – Hamilton was in good spirits following Saturday’s qualifying.
Having lamented the gap to pole-sitter Max Verstappen over the team radio during the session, he had a more positive outlook in the aftermath.
“The car has been much nicer to drive this weekend… this is the nicest it has felt in three years,” he said. “I think we did a really good job over the last week, just the analysis we’ve done at the factory to get the car into a sweet spot.
Lewis Hamilton makes shock Mercedes claim despite poor qualifying
Charles Leclerc fumes at Ferrari mishap in Japan: ‘What are we doing?’
Saturday 6 April 2024 10:02 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc was in a state of bemusement prior to qualifying in Japan on Saturday, questioning his Ferrari team’s run-plan at the end of the final practice session.
Leclerc is four points off championship leader Max Verstappen heading into this weekend in Suzuka, following two podiums in the first three races.
Yet on early evidence, Ferrari cannot match the pace of Red Bull this weekend in Japan, with Leclerc unhappy at the Scuderia’s strategy at the end of the third practice session.
Leclerc failed to get a second “push lap” in at the end and was angry that his team kept him in the garage for too long at the end of the one-hour session.
“Honestly, I don’t get it,” Leclerc said over the team radio. “What are we doing to stay in the garage? Oh my god!”
Full piece below:
Charles Leclerc fumes at Ferrari mishap in Japan: ‘What are we doing?’
Qualifying report: Max Verstappen continues qualifying dominance to take pole position in Japan
Saturday 6 April 2024 09:23 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix as his dominance in qualifying continued.
The world champion has locked out the first spot on the grid this season and there was no answer to his pace at Suzuka.
His time of one minute 28.197 beat Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez into second place by just 0.066 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was the best of the rest.
Verstappen’s run of pole positions now stretches back to the last race of last season and he is now toasting a third pole in Japan.
The Dutchman never looked like being beaten and was quickest across all three qualifying sessions – as well as Saturday morning’s final practice.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying: Charles Leclerc only seventh-fastest
Saturday 6 April 2024 07:58 , Kieran Jackson
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?
