Red Bull principal Praises Verstappen’s Remarkable….read more
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has lauded Max Verstappen for what he described as “one of his best laps in Qualifying ever” after the Dutch driver claimed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Verstappen’s lap was a remarkable performance, securing him pole ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with a margin of just 0.012s and 0.044s, respectively. Verstappen’s fastest lap of 1m 26.983s stunned many, considering that earlier in the weekend, the McLaren duo had been consistently at the top of the timesheets.
McLaren’s Dominance Before Verstappen’s Surprise Performance
Leading up to the final qualifying session, it had been McLaren that appeared to have the upper hand. The team’s drivers, Norris and Piastri, dominated the earlier parts of the weekend, with Verstappen’s best performance in the Free Practice sessions being a fifth-place finish. Despite this, the reigning World Champion found his form in the final laps of Q3, where he delivered an exceptional and near-perfect lap, a performance that even prompted his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, to describe it as “insane.”
Christian Horner’s Reaction to Verstappen’s Pole
Horner, speaking to Sky Sports F1 shortly after Verstappen secured pole position, could not hide his astonishment and admiration for the lap. “Unbelievable,” he said. “We did not expect that, and about Max, what can you say? Just an outstanding lap. He’s extracted every ounce of performance.” Horner went on to explain that Verstappen and his engineering team had worked meticulously to ensure the car was in the right setup window. The driver had focused on getting his tyres in the optimal temperature range, and this preparation paid off when it mattered most. Horner emphasized how the result was completely unexpected, especially given the form of the weekend, adding that it was a huge lift for the team.
Tsunoda’s Struggles in Qualifying
While Verstappen was able to deliver an incredible lap, his new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, faced a more challenging qualifying session. Tsunoda, who was hoping to perform well in front of his home crowd, struggled during his Q2 lap. A couple of early mistakes prevented him from improving, leaving him with a 15th-place finish. However, he was able to move up one position to 14th after Carlos Sainz received a three-place penalty for impeding Lewis Hamilton during the session.
Verstappen Faces Struggles with the RB21
Before Verstappen’s stunning pole performance, the driver had also been dealing with some difficulties in the car, describing the RB21 at one point as “undriveable.” Despite these challenges, Horner explained that Verstappen and his team had worked tirelessly to address the issues with the car, tweaking it throughout the weekend. “They’ve turned the car upside down this weekend,” Horner said, referring to the constant adjustments to get the car in the right working window. He also noted the importance of getting the tyres into their ideal operating window. Horner praised the collaboration between Verstappen and his engineering team, recognizing their efforts in bringing everything together for the decisive Q3 run.
McLaren’s Potential and Verstappen’s Perfect Lap
Horner also commented on the McLaren drivers’ performance, noting that while Verstappen’s lap was phenomenal, McLaren was theoretically slightly quicker if they had been able to execute their laps perfectly. “I think the McLarens, if they’d put their laps together, on the theoretical, they’re half-a-tenth quicker,” Horner stated. “But they didn’t get that together.” Despite this, Verstappen delivered a perfect lap that saw him top the session, leaving no room for improvement from his competitors. According to Horner, Verstappen “left nothing on the table,” making it clear that the pole position was the result of a flawless performance.
A Landmark Performance for Verstappen and Red Bull
In the end, Verstappen’s lap at Suzuka was a demonstration of his exceptional skill and composure under pressure. The lap was a significant achievement for him, especially considering the challenges he faced throughout the weekend. As Horner rightly pointed out, it was “one of his best laps in Qualifying ever,” and it served as a testament to Verstappen’s ability to perform at the highest level, even when the odds seemed stacked against him. For Red Bull, the pole position was a major boost, and it underscored Verstappen’s status as one of the top drivers in Formula 1.
