Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari SF-23. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Practice
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari SF-23. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17…

F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2023 - Qualifying: As it happened

It's qualifying day for the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. Follow all of the F1 action here with the Crash.net live blog.

23 Sep 2023
07:11
Order

Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Perez, Russell, Hamilton, Alonso, Ocon, Tsunoda and Zhou.

07:09
Red flag

Saregant has heavily crashed his Williams. 

07:08
Norris into second

0.185s between the top two - Verstappen v Norris for pole?

07:07
Big lap from Verstappen

He sets a 1m29.878s, 0.8s ahead of Perez.

Russell and Hamilton complete the top four.

07:06
18 cars on a track

A byst track now as Verstappen goes fastest of all in the first sector in the Red Bull.

07:04
Lawson faster than Stroll

Lawson is 0.5s ahead of Stroll after the first laps.

Few more cars on track now - Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton, Russell, Hulkenberg, Magnussen and Ocon.

07:03
Two cars on track

Only Lawson and Stroll are out there currently.

Tyre degradation is very high so teams can only do one run on a set of softs.

07:00
Q1 underway at Suzuka

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan,
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd…

06:58
Not long to go now...

Q1 is set to get underway in a couple of minutes.

06:54
Bold Ecclestone claim

The former F1 boss weighs in on the GOAT debate...

Bernie Ecclestone (GBR). Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain, Race Day.-
Bernie Ecclestone (GBR). Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand…

06:37
Hamilton's Suzuka helmet

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 - helmet. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan,
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 - helmet. Formula 1 World…

06:36
FP3 results

Full order here from FP3

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari SF-23. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Qualifying
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari SF-23. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17,…

04:30
Chequered flag

Verstappen fastest by 0.2s ahead of Norris and Piastri.

04:29
Current order

Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Perez, Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso and Zhou.

04:25
Ferraris

Fifth and sixth for Leclerc and Sainz.

04:21
Verstappen goes fastest

0.2s ahead of the McLarens - fairly close.

04:21
Mercedes

Fourth and fifth for Hamilton and Norris - 0.6s and 0.9s down respectively.

04:16
Current order

Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Alonso, Zhou, Leclerc, Bottas, Hamilton, Russell and Perez.

04:14
Norrs pips Piastri

0.048s between the two McLaren drivers.

04:13
Piastri goes fastest

He's 0.4s clear of Verstappen - storming lap there.

04:07
Only two cars on track

Leclerc and Sainz are circulating on their worn softs.

04:06
Alonso's Suzuka helmet

The helmet of Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix,
The helmet of Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team. Formula 1 World…

04:02
Order with 30 minutes on the clock

Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Perez, Piastri, Sainz, Magnussen and Albon.

03:52
Leclerc into third

On the same set of tyres, Leclerc improves to third, 0.7s off.

03:51
Verstappen takes P1

A 1m30.960s for Verstappen puts him 0.2s clear of Norris.