MAX VERSTAPPEN, Position: 5th, 1:27.851

“Qualifying wasn’t amazing and P5 is not what we hoped for, so I’m happy that we have the race straight away now to try and make a good result out of it. I had a problem with the boost energy in Q2 but that was all fine in Q3. I think maybe we were not aggressive enough and it wasn’t ideal not having a slipstream down the straights as we are running so much downforce. It’s very windy out there, especially in the second sector and on the main straight but that was the same for everyone so there is nothing to complain about. I’m a bit disappointed now but I have confidence that the race can be much better so that is the focus.”

ALEX ALBON, Position: 6th, 1:27.851

“It was a cleaner run in qualifying for me this time so I’m happy with that. I don’t know where the time from the cars in the top four came from, they seem to have made a step but personally speaking, I’m happy. It’s a nightmare losing yesterday’s track action and the conditions today with the wind aren’t ideal. The car is completely different but it’s the same for everyone. You could see the changing wind in Q1 and it was like that every lap so it was sketchy stuff, but that’s the way it is.”

CHRISTIAN HORNER, Team Principal

“The top three teams will line up in championship order after a tricky qualifying in windy conditions here at Suzuka. It was a strong performance from Alex on his first visit here to match Max’s lap time, so that is very positive. It was also an impressive display from Ferrari to qualify 1-2, but our focus turns immediately to the race in two hours’ time. Today’s compacted schedule doesn’t leave the mechanics long to get the cars turned around after qualifying so it will be all hands on deck.”