Before qualifying, Red Bull’s goal was the second row, with direct rival George Russell identified as the most formidable contender for the third position. After sixth place in Q1, Max achieved what was considered the target for the day at the end of Q2 (1’27”502), third place, three and a half tenths behind Lando Norris (1’27”146).
A gap too large to hope for more, to believe he could trouble the ‘papaya’ duo. The first sign of something big came in the first Q3 run, where Verstappen finished second, shaving off two and a half tenths from his previous time (1’27”278) but still two tenths behind Oscar Piastri’s best time (1’27”052).
Norris’ return to the top was expected, which came with the final set of soft tires, thanks to the first lap under one minute and twenty-seven seconds on the Suzuka circuit: 1’26”995. At this point, the feat took shape. Verstappen launched himself with the final set of soft tires, improving by 0”076 in the first sector, 0”108 in the second, and 0”110 in the third. Result: 1’26”983, pole position.
A time considered impossible in Red Bull’s simulations, and the first to realize this was engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. “This is crazy, Max, it’s crazy!” Verstappen celebrated as he hadn’t done in Suzuka 2022, when he clinched his second world title, and even Christian Horner struggled to find the words: “Pure class, Max, pure class.”
It’s not the first time Max Verstappen has proven he can go beyond the car he drives. It took him years to silence his last critics, and he did so with feats, like the one he delivered to motorsport fans today on the Suzuka circuit.
In a digital Formula 1 world driven by programming, the human variable sitting in the car still matters, and in Max Verstappen’s case, it makes the difference between a good day and a triumphant one. It happened last year in Brazil, and it happened today in Japan. There are days when the stopwatch doesn’t always reveal the added value of this driver, but talking to Red Bull’s staff gives you an idea.
“We know Max is the best in the world and drives like number one,” commented Horner. “It was one of the best laps of his career, no doubt.” “I had a lot of fun,” Verstappen admitted. “I was really busy in every corner, and in some points, I wasn’t sure I could keep the car. It was really nice, and yes, for me but also for the team. I’ve had other beautiful pole positions, but this year we didn’t start the season in the best way, and this weekend certainly wasn’t downhill. Let’s just say this pole was definitely unexpected, and that makes it very special.”
Back in the pits, mechanics and engineers welcomed him with hugs and pats on the back. The respect Verstappen has earned over his ten seasons at Red Bull is total, not only at the top (for Helmut Marko, he’s like a son) but also among those working in the team, in all positions. He’s the image of a leader, perceived by all for what he is—a great added value capable of making the difference.
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