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It’s cherry blossom season and for Formula One, the Japanese Grand Prix is at its earliest in the year as it has ever been in the sport’s seven-decade history. Tune in on The Roar from 3pm (AEST) for lap-by-lap updates.
It has been only six months from the last time F1 blasted around the legendary Suzuka circuit and Max Verstappen rebounded to a dominant victory, after failing to win the previous race in Singapore.
The reigning world champion arrives at this 5.8km high-speed technical circuit under the same circumstances, having retired from the Australian Grand Prix with a brakes problem. It was again Carlos Sainz – like in Singapore – who won in Melbourne.
Suzuka has long been a circuit to suit the Red Bull and with the swag of upgrades brought to the RB20 this weekend, Verstappen will likely have the field’s measure come the 53-lap race.
It is a circuit with very few overtaking opportunities. There is the only the single DRS zone down the pit-straight, so emphasis will be placed on strategies – which will likely be two stops even with the hardest compounds in Pirelli’s range.
Verstappen’s unbeaten run of pole positions in 2024 continued, with a 0.066-second difference to teammate Sergio Perez – as Red Bull lock out the front-row of the grid.
Ferrari, who were favoured to be best of the rest behind the Red Bulls instead struggled in qualifying. Melbourne winner Sainz their best chance at a podium from fourth, while Charles Leclerc was at sea and starts eighth.
Last year, Oscar Piastri scored his maiden F1 podium here, with he and McLaren teammate Lando Norris comfortably the second best team behind the mighty Red Bull in last year’s race. The Briton heads up the second-row behind the Red Bulls, while Piastri the day after his 23rd birthday will start sixth.
Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda once again showed up RB teammate Daniel Ricciardo, to bump the under fire Aussie out of the top ten.
Tsunoda is yet to score points on home soil, so will he continue to the pressure his teammate with another good race result?
With it shaping to be another race for Verstappen to lose, who will be picking up the pieces behind the flying Dutchman?
Lights out: 3pm (AEST)
Venue: Suzuka Circuit, Mie Prefecture
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports
2023 winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Grid
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 3. Lando Norris (McLaren), 4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 5. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), 6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 9. George Russell (Mercedes), 10. Yuki Tsunoda (RB), 11. Daniel Ricciardo (RB), 12. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas), 13. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber), 14. Alexander Albon (Williams), 15. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 17. Pierre Gasly (Alpine), 18. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 19. Logan Sargeant (Williams), 20. Guanyu Zhou (Sauber)
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