Norris expects Verstappen to be stripped of pole after huge crash just avoided
Max Verstappen took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix but his place at the front of the grid is under threat after he almost triggered a huge crash with Lando Norris.
Both drivers were preparing for a fast lap in Q3 at Suzuka, but at contrasting pace as they approached the final chicane. Norris started to push before the ultra-fast 130R left-hander but as he rounded the turn he was confronted by Verstappen’s crawling Red Bull.
The world champion was weaving in an attempt to warm up his tyres. As Norris approached at speed, Verstappen veered into his path, with the McLaren having to take the grass to avoid a massive shunt. As a result, both drivers were called to face the stewards. If Verstappen is deemed guilty of dangerous driving he could be hit with a grid penalty and lose pole.
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Speaking after qualifying, Verstappen explained: “I was driving quite slow and wanted to accelerate but my tyres were quite cold so I had a big moment. Lando was trying to pass me at the same time so he had to avoid me a little bit. Luckily nothing happened.”
Verstappen appeared to apologise to his friend on the cool-down lap at the end of qualifying. But Norris wasn’t happy after the incident and expects the Dutchman to pick up a penalty.
“What he did is something you cannot do,” he told Sky Sports F1. “People always overtake before the last corner. As much as everyone always agrees to it [not to], everyone always does it. I wouldn’t have swerved at him.”
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Asked if he would expect a penalty if he had done the same, Norris added: “Oh yeah, for sure.”
The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified second and third respectively, with the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez fourth.
The Alpine of Esteban Ocon was fifth, with Lewis Hamilton sixth, Fernando Alonso seventh and George Russell eighth. In his final qualifying session in Japan, Sebastian Vettel put his Aston Martin an excellent ninth while Norris rounded out the top 10.
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