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World Champion Max Verstappen Grabs Pole for Japanese Grand Prix

Yuki Tsunoda, who placed a solid 10th in qualifying, will be bidding for points in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix when he starts from the fifth row.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 7, 2024

Jim Armstrong

Red Bull's Max Verstappen competes in qualifying for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix on April 6 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture. (Issei Kato/REUTERS)

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World champion Max Verstappen grabbed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, April 6 while Japan's Yuki Tsunoda had a good qualifying session and will start from the fifth row on the grid.

Verstappen clocked the fastest lap of 1 minute, 28.197 seconds on his final effort to claim his fourth pole of the year, and will be joined on the front row by Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who was 0.666 seconds behind at the Suzuka Circuit.

"I think the most important [thing] is to be on pole," Verstappen said. "Of course, you want every lap to be perfect, but around a track like this that's not always the case."

Added Verstappen, "Overall, a very good day, a good starting position for tomorrow, and of course tomorrow is what counts."

McLaren driver Lando Norris was third, followed by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who was fourth.

Verstappen won the first two races of the year but stumbled at the March 24 race in Australia after a technical issue with his car. The Dutchman will be looking to get back to his winning ways in Sunday's race in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture.

As he did in 2023, Tsunoda qualified for the third qualifying session, and then finished 10th out of the final 10 drivers, 1.216 seconds off Verstappen's pace.

Tsunoda's RB teammate Daniel Ricciardo will start 11th.

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