Japanese GP, Max Verstappen remains in pole position: explanation

The grid does not change, commissioners explain.

Max Verstappen will start ahead of everyone in the Japanese Grand Prix, after snatching the fastest time at Suzuka but also ending up under investigation for a dangerous maneuver against Lando Norris. To his detriment, however, comes only a reprimand: that was the FIA’s decision. Behind the Dutchman’s Red Bull, therefore, remain the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

According to the assessment of the stewards (among whom, for this race, is a former Ferrari driver Mika Salo), Verstappen lost control of his Red Bull because of the low temperature of his tires on the Suzuka track. His explanations would also be accepted by Norris himself, however, who was strict in stressing that the driver was responsible for maintaining control of his car.

This is the content of the FIA communiqué: “The driver of car 1 (i.e. Verstappen, ed.) became aware of the presence of car 55 (Sainz, ed.) in front of him and car 4 (Norris, ed.) approaching behind him, and decided to accelerate just as car 4 decided to overtake him. Unfortunately, due to the low tire temperature of car 1, the driver momentarily lost control of the car, causing it to skid counterclockwise. The driver of car 4 said that this was only an unfortunate accident, but that it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain control of his car at all times.”