F1 Qualifying Results – Japanese Grand Prix 2023 times as Verstappen thwarts McLaren charge in Q3

Max Verstappen talking with Lando Norris in Japan — Photo: © LAT Images

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F1 Qualifying Results – Japanese Grand Prix 2023 times as Verstappen thwarts McLaren charge in Q3

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Matthew Hobkinson Lead Editor

F1 Editor & Journalist

Saturday 23 September 2023 09:16

Max Verstappen will start on pole for the Japanese Grand Prix after the Red Bull star kept a late charge from McLaren at bay during Saturday's qualifying session.

The two-time world champion – who topped FP1, FP2 and FP3 – made it a clean sweep with a dominant Q3 display in his RB19 as he recorded a 1:28.877s lap time.

Verstappen will be joined on the front row by Oscar Piastri, with Lando Norris clinching third place.

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Mercedes endured a challenging set of practice sessions ahead of qualifying, yet they will have Lewis Hamilton and George Russell starting Sunday's race in seventh and eighth respectively.

Fernando Alonso survived a late scare to make it into Q3, as Liam Lawson came just 0.043s from knocking the Formula 1 veteran out during qualifying at Suzuka.

Lawson will start Sunday's race in 11th after came agonisingly close to making it into the top 10 shoot-out for pole.

The New Zealander was joined by Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen as the five drivers who failed to progress from Q2.

Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas, Lance Stroll, Zhou Guanyu, Nico Hulkenberg and Logan Sargeant all exited qualifying after the first session.

Sargeant had an unfortunate end to his time in qualifying after he lost control of his Williams and collided with the barriers with the nine minutes remaining in Q1.

The American was able to get out of the car, but exited the session without recording a lap time