Fast Five: 'Fired up' Verstappen takes pole, Japanese GP features world’s first ever ‘kiss-activated’ trophy, and other big updates

'Fired up' Verstappen takes pole in Japan

Max Verstappen reclaimed his dominant form in Suzuka, securing pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, beating McLaren's Oscar Piastri by nearly six-tenths of a second. Lando Norris, Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez, and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five. In the final qualifying runs, Verstappen clocked a blistering lap of 1:28.877, leaving his competitors trailing behind. McLaren secured the second and third spots on the grid, 

Click here to read the full article on racecar.com

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Japanese GP features world’s first ever ‘kiss-activated’ trophy

The 2023 Japanese Grand Prix winners will receive a unique 'kiss-activated' trophy designed by Lenovo, the race's main sponsor, inspired by their logo and F1 car air intakes. Winners can activate LED lights by kissing a designated spot on the trophy. This technology will also be used at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, also sponsored by Lenovo, where the trophies will display the correct flag colors when kissed by the winning driver.

Click here for more details.

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McLaren boss offers to fly Piastri's mum to Japan

McLaren CEO Zak Brown offered to fly Oscar Piastri's mother to Japan after Piastri secured his first front-row start in Formula 1. Piastri's impressive performance in qualifying at Suzuka put him alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen. Brown's generous offer came in response to a request from Piastri's mother, who jokingly asked for a cheap flight to Japan on social media. Brown also expressed his happiness for Piastri's achievements and acknowledged the challenge ahead for McLaren against Red Bull. Piastri himself was thrilled with his front-row start but acknowledged the significant gap to Verstappen.

Click here to read the full article by Daniel Moxon (mirror.co.uk)

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Japanese fans steal the show at Suzuka

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Fans of Formula 1 in Japan appear to stand out from fans elsewhere in the world. They created quite a buzz at Suzuka by donning Pirelli backpacks, Yuki masks, and even onboard cameras. Even the global F1 Twitter community commended them as exceptional hosts on the F1 calendar, praising their warm hospitality and imaginative displays.

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Russell sketches Suzuka while blindfolded

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George Russell, the Mercedes driver, faced the unique challenge of drawing the Suzuka track while blindfolded. He humorously cited his lack of artistic skills from his school days as a pre-competition excuse. Given the intricacies of both driving and representing the track layout, what's your opinion on George's artwork?