Norris is in the lead on Saturday morning
Cloudy. Dry. Air +14C, highway +39C
Alpine mechanics worked all night to prepare the car for Jack Duane after a serious accident on Friday. No less strenuously, the organizers, under the supervision of the FIA, treated the grass around the track to prevent fires, which caused the training session to be stopped twice with red flags the day before. However, the session was stopped at the eighth minute for the same reason, and firefighters were sent to turn 11 to extinguish the fire.
For the first time in the season, Pirelli brought the toughest compounds to the stage – C1, C2 and C3 in the role of Hard, Medium and Soft. On Friday, due to red flags, no one was able to complete a long series of laps, so after the restart, the riders hurried to the track in the hope of collecting the missing information.
Norris drove onto the gravel at the exit of turn nine. Sainz flew onto the grass, shifting off the trajectory to avoid a slow car. Verstappen and Piastri violated the instructions of the race director and received a warning after the session.
Six minutes before the end of the session, red flags appeared for the second time – and again due to the burning of the grass, this time along the straight line in front of 130R. The drivers had to stop a series of laps and return to the pits. The pause dragged on and the session was decided not to continue. Before qualifying, the grass around the track will be watered again.
As expected, the results became a little tighter compared to Friday, and the McLaren drivers headed the protocol again.
The third part of the free races
Pilot
The Time Team
Difference
Circles
1. L.Norris
McLaren
1:27.965
-
17
2. O.Piastri
McLaren
1:27.991
+0.026
17
3. D.Russell
Mercedes
1:28.077
+0.112
15
4. S. Leclair
Ferrari
1:28.414
+0.449
13
5 . M.Verstappen
Red Bull
1:28.497
+0.532
21
6 . L. Hamilton
Ferrari
1:28.524
+0.559
13
7 . A.Elbon
Williams
1:28.554
+0.589
19
8 . P.Gasli
Alpine
1:28.603
+0.638
15
9 . Yu.Tsunoda
Red Bull
1:28.785
+0.820
15
10. A. Hajjar
Racing Bulls
1:28.786
+0.821
16
11. K.Sainz
Williams
1:28.846
+0.881
22
12. L. Lawson
Racing Bulls
1:29.104
+1.139
19
13. K. Antonelli
Mercedes
1:29.126
+1.161
20
14. D. Duane
Alpine
1:29.767
+1.802
15
15. F.Alonso
Aston Martin
1:29.772
+1.807
17
16. O. Berman
Haas
1:30.084
+2.119
17
17. The city of Bortoleto
Sauber
1:30.134
+2.169
13
18. E.Okon
Haas
1:30.183
+2.218
17
19. L. Stroll
Aston Martin
1:30.267
+2.302
16
20. N. Hulkenberg
Sauber
1:30.621
+2.656
17
Other articles
George Russell: It could have been worse
Both Mercedes drivers are not entirely satisfied with the qualifying results – however, George Russell's phrase accurately conveys their mood: "It could have been worse."
Carlos Sainz exceeded the speed limit in the pit lane
Carlos Sainz exceeded the speed limit in the pit lane in the third practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso: The wind changed and we lost speed.
In Suzuka, the Aston Martin racers did not qualify for the finals. Lance Stroll was eliminated in the first session, and Fernando Alonso in the second.…
Max Verstappen: I attacked at the limit in qualifying
Max Verstappen has won qualifying at Suzuka and is starting from pole position on the Japanese circuit for the fourth time in a row.
Alpine had to build a spare car for Duane.
On Saturday morning in Suzuka, Jack Duane took to the track and participated in the third practice session, while he actually has a new Alpine A525 car. Only the power plant remains of the old one...
Japanese Grand Prix: Verstappen wins pole
Max Verstappen won qualifying at Suzuka, taking the 41st pole of his career and the fourth at this track...
Norris is in the lead on Saturday morning
Lando Norris showed the best time on Saturday morning, the session was interrupted twice by red flags...