Verstappen takes pole and aims for title at Suzuka

Sainz will start third and Alonso, seventh

MADRID, 8 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) has achieved pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix race, the eighteenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, and is preparing to lift the title, all after a classification in which the Spanish Carlos Sainz ( Ferrari) was third and Fernando Alonso (Alpine), seventh.

The reigning world champion sealed his fifth pole position of the season after beating Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) by ten thousandths and the man from Madrid by 57. Thus, with a 104-point advantage over the Monegasque in the standings, he will once again be proclaimed champion if he achieves a win and the bonus point for the fastest lap at Suzuka.

However, 'Mad Max' is being investigated for an incident at the start of Q3, when he was trying to warm up his tires and lost control of his car at times; the action forced the British driver Lando Norris (McLaren) to go off the track to avoid the impact, and the stewards are now analyzing whether they should penalize him.

Sainz will share the second row with the Mexican Sergio 'Checo' Pérez (Red Bull), winner in Singapore and who could not enter the fight for pole after being more than four tenths behind his teammate, so he will start fourth.

The French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and the British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will start from the third row, just ahead of the Asturian Fernando Alonso, who did not improve on his last flying lap and will start seventh together with the also British George Russell (Mercedes).