Formula 1 | Williams, Albon and Latifi narrowly out in Q1 at Suzuka

There is some regret at Williams over the elimination of Albon and Latifi in Q1. The two drivers of the Grove team, sixteenth and twentieth respectively but only two tenths clear, were very close to passing the round, as the Thai finished just over a tenth behind Schumacher, fifteenth. The car runs very well in a straight line, and if the race were to be dry it could provide some opportunities for a comeback.

“It's frustrating not to be in Q2 by a tenth and a half – Albon commented. The car was there, but the end of my last launch lap was slow because the cars in front were slow, and the tires weren't quite ready. I slipped at the start of the lap and this caused overheating, and here in particular it is a significant detail. The race pace seems good in the dry, so we'll see what happens tomorrow."

“Better qualifications than expected – Latifi said. I was driving here for the first time in the dry, but this morning I only did two proper laps. The track is very difficult, it requires commitment and confidence in the car. Having few laps available is a shame, but I'm happy with the steps we've made as a team. We are just a few tenths away from Q2, also because my last attempt wasn't perfect, I made some mistakes. We're fast on the straight, if we can gain positions it could become interesting."