Alex Albon nails Q3 again in Suzuka while Sainz falters, missing out and earning a penalty for blocking Hamilton’s flying lap.
Williams driver Alex Albon once again proved his consistency with another top-10 qualifying performance at the Japanese Grand Prix. He continues his perfect run of Q3 appearances this season in competitive sessions — a feat that even some bigger teams can’t match.
“I’m happy with the result,” Albon said after the session. “We were chasing the right balance all through qualifying. Some laps felt great, others not so much. A lot depended on your out-lap and whether you hit dirty air in Sector 1.”
Despite the small margins, Albon praised both his car and his team. “The car felt good, especially in the final run. The balance shifted quite a bit, so I had to adjust my driving style. But with gaps this tight, anyone from fifth to tenth could have ended up in any of those positions — especially the guy in P5! It sounds silly, but it’s true,” he joked.
Williams has been steadily improving, and Albon’s performance reflects that progress. “We made some changes to the setup and it paid off. That’s four Q3s now, including the Sprint in China. It really shows how much the car has evolved this year. It’s completely different compared to last season.”
Looking ahead to the race, Albon remains cautious. Rain was previously expected, but the forecast has since shifted. “Yesterday, it looked like we’d have a wet race for sure, but now it’s less likely. Maybe a wet start and dry finish. We haven’t made any major setup changes for the rain — this track is super tricky and even dangerous when it’s wet. The upside? If it rains, at least we won’t have any grass fires!”
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz had a more frustrating session, missing out on Q3 and later receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding Lewis Hamilton during qualifying.
“It was really tight,” Sainz admitted. “Q3 was definitely within reach. I felt more comfortable with the car, and we made good progress. But I couldn’t string a clean lap together. I hit traffic on my fastest attempt, and with margins this close, that’s all it takes.”
Update (10:54): Sainz has been found guilty of impeding Hamilton and has been handed a three-place grid drop for the race. More details available in the full stewards’ report.
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Albon shines in Japan as Sainz slips and gets penalty
Albon shines in Japan as Sainz slips and gets penalty
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