Max Verstappen produced one of the greatest pole laps of his Formula 1 career at the Japanese Grand Prix. The reigning world champion stunned the two McLaren drivers with his final lap in Q3.
Verstappen had seemed unhappy with the car throughout practice, failing to crack the top four in any of the three sessions. He was more than half a second off the pace each time.
Even in the first two segments of qualifying, there was little indication of a major improvement. The universal expectation was a head-to-head battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
But Verstappen stole a 41st career pole position with a 1:26.983 – the fastest-ever lap around Suzuka. That put him just 12-thousandths of a second ahead of Norris, and four-hundredths clear of Piastri.
Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase called it an ‘insane’ lap over the radio. The driver himself roared in delight.
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Verstappen was clearly taken aback by his pace, just like everyone else. He’s rarely celebrated pole as much as he did here.
Ted Kravitz spotted a major difference between the two Red Bull cars before qualifying, with Verstappen running much less downforce. That paid off as he pulled away from the McLarens down the straight, and he held on admirably through the Esses section.
Verstappen arrived at the Japanese Grand Prix second in the world championship, eight points adrift of Norris. The 27-year-old had appeared deeply concerned by the team’s lack of performance relative to McLaren.
There has been tension at Red Bull too because Verstappen opposed the Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda swap, urging the team to focus on improving the car instead. But writing on Instagram, 1996 world champion Damon Hill said he was ‘not to be denied’ in qualifying.
Karun Chandhok’s instant reaction as Max Verstappen beats Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Verstappen will start a Grand Prix from pole position for the first time since Austria last year. He set the fastest time in Qatar in December but received a one-place penalty for impeding.
Writing on X, Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok called Verstappen’s Suzuka effort ‘very special’. It was a reminder that he’ll be extremely difficult to beat if Red Bull can improve their car even slightly.
Come the Spanish Grand Prix at the end of the May, the FIA will introduce stricter tests for flexible front wings. If Verstappen can stay close until then, the clampdown could reshape the pecking order.
Verstappen has ‘doubts’ over Red Bull’s development potential, with a revised technical department at the helm following Adrian Newey’s departure. Pierre Wache and co. must prove themselves this year to extend the Dutchman’s title streak.
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