Verstappen set his best lap in the very first attempt of the final qualifying round, Q3, with a minute of 1.29.304, beating Monegask Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) by just 0.010 seconds, the shortest qualifying gap of this season.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) was third, 0.057 seconds behind Verstappen. “I’m very happy to be on pole,” said the reigning world champion.
The race can have rain and shake the beads. “It will be interesting to see how the weather will behave. But I am confident because we have a good car,” said Verstappen at the end of the session. This was the sixth pole of the season for the 25-year-old Dutch rider, 18th in his career.
The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), the other title contender, will start from fourth on the grid together with Verstappen and Leclerc.
With 341 points, 104 more than Leclerc and 106 than Pérez, Verstappen must win and set the fastest lap of the race (which is worth an extra point) in order not to be dependent on what his opponents do and his second championship four races of the to celebrate the end of the season.
The Dutchman was already the fastest in the third free practice this morning, after the two Mercedes dominated the first two sessions on Friday, which were held in wet conditions.
The Japanese GP is the 18th of the 22 races of the season.
Source: DN
