Japanese Grand Prix: Qualifying Recap

After the downpour that dominated Friday’s track time, Schumacher and Magnussen had their first taste of the Suzuka Circuit in dry conditions in final practice head of qualifying – sampling the Pirelli P Zero Yellow medium and Red tires in the 60-minute session. 

Two hours later and qualifying kicked off with the opening knockout round – Q1. Schumacher bounced back from having to sit out yesterday’s second session due to a chassis change by setting a hot lap of 1:31.152 on his second set of soft rubber to place 13th at the checkered – the German advancing into Q2 comfortably. Magnussen also ran two sets of softs, the Dane missing out on Q2 with a best lap of 1:31.352 to finish 18th on the timesheet.

Schumacher again ran two sets of the soft compound in Q2. His first charging lap of 1:31.439 proved to be his fastest to qualify 15th on the grid for Sunday’s 53-lap race.

World Champion and current series leader Max Verstappen placed his Red Bull Racing on pole position in Q3 with a quick lap of 1:29.304 ahead of Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Kevin Magnussen, Driver No. 20, Haas F1 Team

“It was a pretty smooth qualifying, but I didn’t have any more in it. Mick and I have different set-ups but it was two tenths that I was behind. My lap was good, there were no mistakes and the car actually felt fine so it’s one of those where you’re P18 but it’s hard to understand why. There’s some chances of mixed weather tomorrow and in this position you hope for that.”

Mick Schumacher, Driver No. 47, Haas F1 Team

“It seems like we pretty much got the maximum out of it. I think maybe one position more could’ve been in it, but we start the race on the clean side which might actually be better for tomorrow’s race start. I hope for rain, our car in the rain is pretty good and our performance in it on Friday was great, so I’m very much looking forward to some mixed conditions.”

 

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team

“It wasn’t the result we hoped for today. Kevin went out in Q1 which was pretty disappointing, and Mick made it into Q2 but he couldn’t better his time from Q1. We start where we start tomorrow but there could be mixed conditions and maybe we can make something out of it. We just need to make sure we are not making any mistakes.”

Today's Data

Event: Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday October 8
Location: Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka
Layout: 5.807-kilometer (3.608-mile), 18-turn circuit
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
Air Temps: 19 degrees Celsius (66.2 degrees Fahrenheit)
Track Temps: 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit)
Team Result: Mick Schumacher qualified 15th, Kevin Magnussen qualified 18th 

Free Practice 3 Rundown:

Magnussen: 15th overall (1:32.290), 23 laps completed
Schumacher: 16th overall (1:32.366), 24 laps completed
Fastest: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing (1:30.671)

Q1 Qualifying: 18-mins with all 20 drivers – Top 15 advance to Q2

Schumacher: 13th overall (1:31.152) – Advanced to Q2 
Magnussen: 18th overall (1:31.352)
Fastest: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing (1:30.224)

Q2 Qualifying: 15-mins – Top 10 advance to Q3

Schumacher: 15th overall (1:31.439) 
Fastest: Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing (1:29.925) 

Q3 Qualifying: 12-mins featuring the Top 10 

Pole Winner: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing (1:29.304)