Verstappen Rebut Pole Position, But Admits Japan's GP Track Is Difficult

Max Verstappen won pole position at F1 GP Japan 2024 (Instagram/@maxverstappen1).

JAKARTA - Oracle Red Bull Racing racer, Max Verstappen, managed to take pole position in the 2024 Japanese GP F1 qualifying at the Suzuka Circuit on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

He became the fastest with a time of 1:28,197. Verstappen has now shifted his focus to the race to be held on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

The 26-year-old wants to make up for the poor results at the Australian GP F1 on March 24, 2024. At that time, he failed to finish after the retire.

However, Verstappen found it difficult for the suzuka Circuit track. He considered the circuit asphalt very sensitive to tires.

"In the end, it was quite close (distance from other drivers in qualifying). I think the whole track is very sensitive to tires, with very aggressive asphalt, and when you really want to reach the limit, it doesn't always work," Verstappen said on the official F1 website.

However, Verstappen still has time to find a solution before Sunday afternoon's race WIB.

"In my opinion, the most important thing right now is that I am in the leading position. Of course you want every round to be perfect."

"However, on a track like this is not always the case. Overall, a very good day. A good starting position for tomorrow. Of course tomorrow is the most important thing," said Verstappen again.

Max Verstappen saat ini masih memimpin klasemen pebalap dengan 51 poin dari tiga balapan yang sudah dijalani. Ia menjuarai GP Bahrain dan GP Arab Saudi sebelum gagal di GP Australia.

The Belgian-born racer certainly has ambitions to win at F1 GP Japan 2024. The suzuka Circuit is not a foreign track for Verstappen.

Despite admitting that he had encountered difficulties, Verstappen had won twice at the Suzuka Circuit in the previous two consecutive seasons.

He certainly wants his slick record to continue and score a hat-trick for champions at the Suzuka Circuit at the 2024 Japanese GP F1, in addition to collecting perfect points again.