Max Verstappen sprung a surprise at the Japanese Grand Prix by taking pole position ahead of his championship rivals on Saturday.
The reigning champion was not expected to lead from the front for Red Bull at Suzuka after a shaky start to the season.
Verstappen had a terrific start and beat both McLaren drivers into turn one, and followed through the first sector completely unchallenged.
But as the Japanese Grand Prix progressed, he held a solid gap at the front and appeared completely unflustered in his position.
Verstappen was lacking one thing at Red Bull and struggled to find confidence in his car early in the weekend.
It was the first weekend of a new partnership for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, with Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda doing something ‘really bad’ in their first race together.
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David Croft says Max Verstappen produced ‘brilliance’ at the Japanese Grand Prix
Even a tight pitstop release didn’t bother the Dutchman, as Lando Norris challenged him on the exit and went onto the grass in a bid to overtake him.
Sky Sports F1’s David Croft noticed a moment of brilliance from the four-time champion before the first stops of the race.
“Verstappen got that pole lap, fourth consecutive pole here,” he said. “By the way, no driver has ever won four consecutive races here at Suzuka. A lot of the brilliance was through the esses.
“Through that first sector and that advantage he has got by leading at the moment is showing itself through the first sector. He’s constantly about two tenths clear through those esses.”
It was clear that Verstappen’s confidence shone through where it mattered. The serial Formula 1 winner had a clear advantage over his opponents in the high-speed sections.
Despite being on the back foot in the drivers’ championship, he seems to have a new lease of life and is enjoying having more of a fight on his hands.
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Verstappen has a serious fight on his hands if he wants to become just the second driver in the sport’s history to win five titles in a row.
Michael Schumacher achieved the feat between 2000 and 2004, but in a car with a slightly larger advantage that his counterpart enjoys currently.
Verstappen has serious ‘doubts’ at Red Bull and fears whether they can develop their car enough to compete this season.
Liam Lawson and Tsunoda have not managed to get even close in the RB21. It isn’t a car that is particularly friendly to anyone that isn’t the four-time champion.
