World champion Max Verstappen delivered when he had to. He was unable to beat in the Formula 1 qualifying from Japan.
“Phenomenon” Max Verstappen did not even try to hide his thieving grin. The Formula 1 world champion was solved after his coup in the qualifying of Japan, proud and happy or for a long time.
“The last round was full throttle. I was at the limit, maybe a little bit over it,” said the Dutchman, who had not only beaten the favorite McLaren pilot Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri in the Red Bull, which had been inferior.
The reward for a round that even McLaren team boss Andrea Stella titled “Sky” as “incredibly” without envy was the pole position for the race in Suzuka (Sunday, 7:00 a.m. CEST/Sky). “We were at the limit,” Vice World Champion Norris admitted: “Nevertheless, it wasn’t quite enough.”
Because Verstappen delivered world championship. The team changed the car in some places, and “then the Verstappen factor came, it hit a round that we did not think possible,” said Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. Verstappen is “an absolute phenomenon”.
Rain race in Suzuka?
Thanks to its extra class, Verstappen, the McLaren pilots, which have so far been clearly superior. Norris and Piatri want to counter in the third season race on Sunday. “The distance was minimal,” said Norris: “Of course we want to overtake Max, but he will definitely fight back.”
It is questionable whether the rebellious McLaren can also keep the full distance in the race. Especially since rain is expected on Sunday. Norris had already announced full -bodied on Thursday that the McLaren era had now begun because the team had the best car. The question of who is the best driver, however, answered Verstappen impressively.
It was the 41st pole position for the champion and the first since the race in Austria in 2024. Behind the top trio, Charles Leclerc (Monaco) followed fourth in Ferrari. George Russell (Great Britain) became fifth, which did not meet the expectations of the Mercedes pilot, which had become third in the first two races. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain/Ferrari) felt similarly eighth.
Hülkenberg looking for “harmony”
The Emmerich Nico Hülkenberg had to be satisfied with 16th place. The result is “no surprise,” he said: “It is difficult to find the harmony. Due to the wind, which shot by 180 degrees compared to the previous day, the car is a bit bitchier and more difficult to drive.”
Local hero Yuki Tsunoda drove the 15th place in his first qualifying as a red bull pilot. Liam Lawson (New Zealand), who had to clear his cockpit at Red Bull for Tsunoda, was a little faster than the Japanese with his comeback for the Racing Bulls.
The Rookie Jack Doohan, which is under pressure, did not succeed in the hoped -for liberation. The Australian, who had severely damaged his alpine racing car in the second training session in a violent accident, became only 19th and thus missed a good result that would be important for his future in Formula 1. It persists that Alpine wants to replace the 22-year-old with the Argentine Franco Colapinto promptly.