Worry reigns at the start of qualifying in the Ferrari stand. After his crash in FP3, Kimi R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen’s car is not certain to be able to take to the track. The mechanics are busy around the Finnish driver’s car, which will incur a 5-place grid penalty for a gearbox change, regardless.<\/p>\n
The drivers quickly take to the track and Lewis Hamilton immediately sets the fastest time with 1:29.325. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas goes too wide at Degner and nearly loses control of his Mercedes into the barriers, where R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen went off this morning. Nevertheless, the Mercedes driver sets the 4th fastest time.<\/p>\n
\nBottas off again! No damage this time… <\/p>\n
Live text commentary & timings \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/t.co\/n7sXojqp4r<\/a>#Quali<\/a> #JapaneseGP<\/a> \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 #F1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4KI9PknV6R<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) 7 octobre 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The Red Bulls seem to be in form and Verstappen beats Hamilton’s time to take the lead with 1:29.181 before the Briton reclaims his spot with a 1:29.047.<\/p>\n
Kimi R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen finally takes to the track and places his Ferrari in a surprising second place. His teammate Sebastian Vettel is only 5th, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon, Nico H\u00fclkenberg, and Felipe Massa, who complete the Top 10.<\/p>\n
One minute before the end of the session, Romain Grosjean violently goes off the track in the S. The front of his car is destroyed, but the driver exits his vehicle on his own. Q1 will not be restarted for the final seconds, condemning the last five drivers.<\/p>\n
\n\ud83d\udea9 RED FLAG \ud83d\udea9 Q1 <\/p>\n
Big impact for GRO (he’s OK)#Quali<\/a> #JapaneseGP<\/a> \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 #F1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/uyF6sOzWoR<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) 7 octobre 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The ones eliminated in Q1 are: Grosjean, Gasly, Stroll, Ericsson, Wehrlein<\/b><\/p>\n
Only R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen and Bottas set off on Soft tires for their quick laps in Q2. With his 5-place penalty, the Finnish Ferrari driver is already adjusting his strategy for tomorrow’s race, just like his compatriot, who is also penalized.<\/p>\n
Immutable, Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes shatter the track record with a 1:27.819. He leads Sebastian Vettel and the two Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo. The two Force Indias, Massa’s Williams, and Stoffel Vandoorne’s McLaren complete the Top 10.<\/p>\n
In his last attempt, Fernando Alonso takes the 10th time against Vandoorne. The Spaniard will be penalized 35 places anyway and will therefore start at the very back.<\/p>\n
The drivers eliminated in Q2 are: Vandoorne, H\u00fclkenberg, Magnussen, Palmer, Sainz<\/b><\/p>\n
And as expected, in Q3, Lewis Hamilton sets a new track record with a time of 1:27.345, relegating his teammate Bottas to more than 6 tenths behind. Vettel puts his Ferrari in second position while the Red Bulls rank 4th and 5th, Ricciardo ahead of Verstappen.<\/p>\n
Kimi R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen has not yet set a time after a new mistake in Degner, which hastens his entry to the pit without finishing his fast lap.<\/p>\n
\n\ud83d\ude2e Careful Kimi! We’ve been here before… #Quali<\/a> #JapaneseGP<\/a> \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 #F1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BSQsDvT4iG<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) 7 octobre 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In his last fast lap, Hamilton sets a new record at 1:27.319. Bottas is second ahead of Vettel, Ricciardo, and Verstappen. R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen is only 6th ahead of Ocon and Perez. Massa and Alonso close the Top 10, but penalties for everyone will need to be applied for tomorrow’s grid.<\/p>\n
The complete ranking of the qualifications:<\/b><\/p>\n
\n\ud83c\udfc1 END OF QUALIFYING \ud83c\udfc1<\/p>\n
HAM \ud83d\udcf8\ud83d\udc4a
BOT
VET
RIC
VER
RAI
OCO
PER
MAS
ALO#Quali<\/a> #JapaneseGP<\/a> \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 #F1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/d6E4Ox6deE<\/a><\/p>\n