Japan GP Qualifying Report

Had silly season begun already?  Two races in?  Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi (because Switzerland was too much.  I would have thought Switzerland was easier than Christian Horner.) and is strongly rumoured to be heading to Aston Martin.  Aston Martin had made no progress in getting their cars to be racable but Fernando has become a father.  In a surprising twist we are not speculating who is going to be imminently brought in to replace Hadjar in the second Red Bull seat, which usually has a revolving door policy.

There was absolutely no drama at all in the first Qualifying session.  Stroll was last and three seconds behind his team mate.  The Cadillacs of Perez and Bottas were ahead of the Aston Martins.  Bearman was the shock exit in 18th place; he just didn't string a lap together.  Albon was in 17th.  Colapinto nearly went out but got through, which would have meant both Williams were through to Q2.  Unusually, Albon made a strong complaint about the condition of his car compared to Sainz' over the radio.  A few drivers were vocal that it was their car and not them, including Russell and Verstappen.

The drama came in the second Qualifying session.  Linblad in his Racing Bull knocked out Verstappen in his Red Bull.  Antonelli had been fastest in both sessions so far.  The six out were Verstappen, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Colapinto and Sainz.  All the drivers (apart from Ocon and Sainz) had team mates in the top ten.

At last, in the final session, it looked as though Russell might catch Antonelli.  He was nearly three tenths of a second off but was still second.  Piastri was third, LeClerc fourth; then Piastri, LeClerc, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Hadjar, Bortoleto and Linblad.

Antonelli was pleased but not surprised.  Russell was disappointed but not surprised.  Piastri was surprised.

We will have to see what sort of starts the drivers and cars can manage on race day as I suspect it might dictate some of the finishing result.  If you're not enjoying the racing on track because it's Japan, you can enjoy the outfits trackside; the spectators have really outdone themselves this year.