Max Verstappen earns his 3rd straight pole at Suzuka as he looks for a 3rd consecutive Japanese Grand Prix victory on Sunday
Another race, another pole position for Red Bull standout Max Verstappen. For the fourth straight Formula 1 race in 2024, the three-time defending world champion starts from P1 after narrowly clipping teammate Sergio Pérez by 0.066 seconds in qualifying on Saturday. McLaren’s Lando Norris grabbed the third position, with Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounding out the top five. Oscar Piastri of McLaren opens from the sixth spot, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari on Row 4. The fifth row has Mercedes’ George Russell and RB Honda’s Yuki Tsunoda. Russell, however, may drop back in the grid as F1 stewards investigate a pit-lane incident during the first qualifying period on Saturday.
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Race Date: April 7, 2024
Race Time: 12:55 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN
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Starting from the pole has been key at Suzuka International Racing Circuit, with Hamilton’s 2015 victory the last from a driver who opened the race further back in the field. The circuit is 3.608 miles long with 18 turns, many among the most iconic on the F1 calendar. The race covers 191.053 miles over 53 laps.
Verstappen, who exited the Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago with brake trouble just three laps in, comes to Suzuka with a four-point lead over Leclerc in the driver standings. Pérez is five points back in third place, Sainz — the winner in Melbourne — stands fourth with an 11-point deficit and Piastri is fifth, 28 points back.
The race was moved from September to April this year as part of F1’s plan to reduce travel between races. Verstappen’s 2023 victory in Japan clinched the season title.
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