Max Verstappen was asked a few days ago if he had concerns going into the Japanese Grand Prix, which is to be raced today.
His rear brakes caught fire just two weeks ago at the Australian Grand Prix, forcing him out on the fourth lap.
“No, no,” Verstappen replied.
Photo: AP
True to his word. No worries.
The Dutchman claimed pole for Red Bull in qualifying yesterday, poised to return to his unprecedented dominance in Formula 1 after the blip in Australia.
Verstappen clocked 1 minute, 28.197 seconds, just 0.066 seconds ahead of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Verstappen said he was “not very happy with myself” after almost letting Perez snatch top spot in the dying moments.
“It wasn’t ideal, but it was still good enough,” he said.
McLaren driver Lando Norris claimed third on the grid, 0.292 seconds behind Verstappen.
Verstappen is the three-time defending champion, holds almost every F1 record and has won 21 of the past 25 races entering today’s race in Japan.
He has won every pole this season — four — and this was the 36th of his career. He is chasing his 57th win.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who was dominant before Verstappen, is without a win in 48 races.
Hamilton is to start the race from seventh on the grid.
Yesterday was a sunny, dry day and race day should be the same, with no rain in the forecast.
Rain often plagued the race when it was traditionally held in the fall.
This year it has been moved to the spring and dovetails with cherry blossom season in Japan.
Verstappen was also the quickest in yesterday’s final practice, 0.269 seconds ahead of Perez.
Additional reporting by AFP
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