RED BULL 'IN A DIFFERENT LEAGUE'

Sainz says champs have edge on rougher tracks as Max leads 1-2 in Suzuka qualifying

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Red Bull's dominant display in the April 6 qualifying sessions for the Japanese Grand Prix proved that they are in a different league, said Ferrari's Carlos Sainz as he vowed to fight for a spot on the podium in the race on April 7.

Formula leader Max Verstappen took pole position, just 0.066 seconds ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, with McLaren's Lando Norris in third.

One championship Sainz and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who were among the fastest drivers on April 5, could not recover from a disappointing showing in the final practice session and will start in fourth and eighth place respectively.

"I hope we can fight with them in the race, because in the qualifying it was impossible. In the race, it would be nice to have a fight... I think it should be an interesting battle for the podium," Sainz, who won the last race in Australia after Verstappen's retirement, told Sky Sports.

"I think the Red Bulls are, unfortunately, in a different league around rougher tarmacs, medium, high speed - they are just ahead on downforce."