Clueless Hamilton handed Japanese GP reality check as Verstappen takes pole

06 April 2024 , 07:01

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Max Verstappen continued his strong qualifying form at Suzuka (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton was left wondering how he was so far back from Max Verstappen as the Red Bull racer romped to pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The seven-time F1 champion was glum when informed over the radio by his Mercedes race engineer that his best effort was still half-a-second slower than what his rival had managed. "Where's that half-a-second, man?" he asked - and Charles Leclerc was sounded similarly surprised by how far he and Ferrari were away from Verstappen as well.

It was simple for the Dutchman in the end who never looked like he was going to face a genuine challenge for pole at Suzuka. Team-mate Sergio Perez did his best, but wasn't able to topple Verstappen who continued his imperious qualifying form.

Lando Norris was third quickest on a good day for McLaren with the Spaniards Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso separating him from team-mate Oscar Piastri in sixth. Hamilton had to settle for seventh, a long way off the fight for pole, with George Russell two places further back and behind Leclerc. Yuki Tsunoda rounded off the top 10 at his home race.

Lance Stroll has never progressed from Q1 at Suzuka in his Formula 1 career and continued that wretched run this time. He was only 16th fastest in a concerning result for Aston Martin, who originally gave only the Canadian their upgrade package this weekend and left Alonso with the older spec car, but broke curfew overnight to fit them to the Spaniard's machine too.

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Pierre Gasly was only 17th fastest and continued his poor qualifying form - he hasn't progressed from Q1 yet this season and has been outqualified by team-mate Esteban Ocon four times in a row now. The latter managed to avoid elimination from the first part of qualifying despite the Alpine cars still being painfully slow.

Kevin Magnussen, Logan Sargeant and Zhou Guanyu were the others eliminated in Q1, the latter being slowest for the third consecutive race. His team-mate Valtteri Bottas was half-a-second quicker to put in the eighth fastest lap of that first part of the session, raising hopes of a first Sauber appearance in Q3 this year.

But the Finn couldn't manage it and was only 13th fastest in Q2. That put him ahead of Ocon and Alex Albon and one place behind Nico Hulkenberg. Daniel Ricciardo was unfortunate to miss out on a first Q3 appearance of the year, knocked out by his team-mate who leapfrogged him right on his final run.

Home hero Tsunoda delighted the Japanese fans with his run and duly celebrated over the radio, having taken advantage of the absence of one of the Aston Martins to snatch that place in the final part of the session.

Mercedes were hoping to be the chief rivals to Red Bull in qualifying but couldn't find the pace. Hamilton and Russell were a long way off Verstappen, as were the Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc. Norris was closest to them but still was still comfortably beaten by both the Dutchman and Perez as Red Bull dominated the day.