2024 Japanese GP Qualifying Results
Every car frozen on the finish line, with each gap to Max Verstappen’s pole shown to scale in real metres. Qualifying at Suzuka, round 4.
Japanese Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying: what happened
Max Verstappen took pole for the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying with a 1:28.197 for Red Bull Racing at Suzuka. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) was 0.066s behind, and at racing speed that is 5.4 m of track between them as they crossed the line.
Lando Norris completed the top three for McLaren, 0.292s off Max Verstappen. Across the whole classified order the field spread out to 159.5 m, from Max Verstappen to Zhou Guanyu.
The closest call of the session was between Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso: 0.004s apart, about 0.33 m at speed.
| # | Driver | Team | Lap time | Gap | Behind (to scale) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:28.197 | Pole | — |
| 2 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing | 1:28.263 | +0.066 | 5.4 m |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:28.489 | +0.292 | 23.9 m |
| 4 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:28.682 | +0.485 | 39.7 m |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:28.686 | +0.489 | 40.1 m |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:28.760 | +0.563 | 46.1 m |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:28.766 | +0.569 | 46.6 m |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:28.786 | +0.589 | 48.3 m |
| 9 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:29.008 | +0.811 | 66.5 m |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB | 1:29.413 | +1.216 | 99.6 m |
| 11 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB | 1:29.472 | +1.275 | 104.5 m |
| 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas F1 Team | 1:29.494 | +1.297 | 106.3 m |
| 13 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber | 1:29.593 | +1.396 | 114.4 m |
| 14 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:29.714 | +1.517 | 124.3 m |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:29.816 | +1.619 | 132.7 m |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:30.024 | +1.827 | 149.7 m |
| 17 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:30.119 | +1.922 | 157.5 m |
| 18 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas F1 Team | 1:30.131 | +1.934 | 158.5 m |
| 19 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 1:30.139 | +1.942 | 159.1 m |
| 20 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber | 1:30.143 | +1.946 | 159.5 m |
How big is the gap, really?
Max Verstappen took qualifying pole at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 with a 1:28.197. On the timesheet the field looks bunched into tenths, but at racing speed those tenths stretch out: from pole to Zhou Guanyu the field covers 159.5 m.
Japanese Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying: your questions
- Who took pole at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024?
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) took pole at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 qualifying with a 1:28.197 at Suzuka.
- How close was qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024?
- Max Verstappen beat Sergio Perez to pole by 0.066s. At racing speed that margin is 5.4 m of track. Across the whole field, from pole to Zhou Guanyu in P20, the spread is 1.946s or 159.5 m.
- How far behind was Sergio Perez at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024?
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) qualified P2 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 with a 1:28.263, 0.066s behind Max Verstappen's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 5.4 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Lando Norris at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024?
- Lando Norris (McLaren) qualified P3 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 with a 1:28.489, 0.292s behind Max Verstappen's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 23.9 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Carlos Sainz at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024?
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) qualified P4 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 with a 1:28.682, 0.485s behind Max Verstappen's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 39.7 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Fernando Alonso at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024?
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) qualified P5 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 with a 1:28.686, 0.489s behind Max Verstappen's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 40.1 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Oscar Piastri at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024?
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) qualified P6 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 with a 1:28.760, 0.563s behind Max Verstappen's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 46.1 m of track behind.
- How much is a tenth of a second in metres at Suzuka?
- On this lap a tenth of a second is worth roughly 8.2 m of track. That is why Sergio Perez's 0.066s at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 puts 5.4 m between the cars on the finish line.