Verstappen pips Leclerc to Japanese GP pole but faces investigation

Verstappen pips Leclerc to Japanese GP pole but faces investigation

 

 

 
But the Red Bull driver faces an investigation for an incident involving McLaren’s Lando Norris during Q3. Verstappen, who can seal a second world title on Sunday at Suzuka, was just 0.010s faster than nearest rival Leclerc as he topped qualifying for just the fifth time this season. F1 2022 Japanese Grand Prix – Full Qualifying resultsIs Hamilton No Longer the Best Wet Weather Driver?Video of Is Hamilton No Longer the Best Wet Weather Driver?The Dutchman’s opening lap – which put him 0.253s clear of Leclerc – proved good enough to seal pole as he failed to improve on his final run. Leclerc did find time but a slight mistake in the second sector proved the difference as he narrowly missed out on a 10th pole of 2022. Verstappen will have to make a trip to the stewards’ office after qualifying, however, following a near-miss with Norris as both drivers prepared to start laps.  Norris was forced to take to the grass at the flat-out 130R in order to avoid the Red Bull driver, with Verstappen losing his rear end when crawling on an out-lap. The top three were covered by just 0.057s as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz had to settle for third, ahead of Sergio Perez, who was four-tenths slower than his Red Bull teammate. Esteban Ocon turned in a great lap to take sixth in his Alpine, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who was nearly a full second down in sixth as Mercedes struggled for pace in dry conditions. Related Norris expects Verstappen penalty after ‘clear’ block F1 2022 title permutations: How Verstappen can be crowned in JapanAlpine’s Fernando Alonso split the Mercedes drivers in seventh ahead of Russell. A brilliant performance from four-time Japanese GP pole sitter Sebastian Vettel saw the Aston Martin driver seal ninth spot on the grid, ahead of Norris who completed the top-10.  McLaren teammate Daniel Ricciardo was just 0.003s shy of advancing into the top-10 shootout, while Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas took 12th. Home-hero Yuki Tsunoda was a frustrated 13th for AlphaTauri as he outpaced the second Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu and Haas’ Mick Schumacher. Alex Albon narrowly missed out on a spot in Q2 as he took 16th in his Williams, ahead of Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly, whose AlphaTauri was hampered by brake issues. Kevin Magnussen failed to join Haas teammate Schumacher in progressing to the second part of qualifying and could only set a lap good enough for 18th. Behind the Dane came Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and outgoing Williams driver Nicholas Latifi, who was slowest of all in 20th.   

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