Verstappen sets new record at Suzuka: today’s first place is his 41st pole position of his career, his fourth in a row in Japan
1:26.983. This time sums up Max Verstappen’s morning in Japan, as the Dutchman claimed pole position in the Land of the Rising Sun. Just 12 thousandths ahead of Lando Norris, and 44 thousandths ahead of Oscar Piastri, the two McLaren drivers, who had dominated from the first moment of Friday practice, still remain favorites for tomorrow’s victory.
Max’s dominant, almost despotic, form in 2023 and the first quarter of the 2024 season had somewhat bored us, with lap times on a single lap that were unreachable, and races that lacked any real competition. Having such unbeatable cars, the RB19 and RB20 of previous years, far superior to the competition, was undoubtedly a convenient excuse to “justify” Verstappen’s strength, which had been underappreciated and, over time, almost forgotten.
So much so that, just months after his last pole (Qatar 2024, the penultimate race of last season), we had almost become unaccustomed to seeing Verstappen’s pole lap performances, overshadowed by McLaren’s supremacy with Norris and Piastri. However, today, despite having a car that was certainly inferior, if not on par with Ferrari and Mercedes, Max’s right foot went beyond any “human” limits, beating the equally competitive McLaren times. In short, no one stood a chance.
Is Suzuka’s pole the most beautiful?
It’s hard to say, but for many, Max Verstappen’s pole position this morning is his most beautiful since he started racing in Formula 1. Beating, even by just a few thousandths, the McLaren duo of Norris and Piastri and going under the 1:27.000 mark is, in fact, a true miracle by the Dutch champion. Hats off.
An interesting comparison is certainly the pole position Max took at Monte Carlo. In 2023, Red Bull was in top form and had already wrapped up the championship, but the streets of the Principality seemed to be one of the least favorable for Milton Keynes’ team. Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso, was the big favorite. And indeed, Alonso was leading the way, 2 tenths ahead of Verstappen up until the middle of the final sector.
However, in the last 15 seconds, from the “Piscine” onward, Max put in an absolutely stunning third sector, claiming a fantastic pole and beating Alonso by just over 80 thousandths. He then went on to win the race. Another notable moment was the pole he secured in Abu Dhabi at the final race of 2021, the year of his first title against Hamilton.
However, perhaps the most impressive preceding lap to today’s Suzuka pole was the one at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, 2021, when Max had accumulated more than 2 tenths of a margin over Hamilton in the middle sector. With a car glued to the walls of the Saudi circuit, a mistake in the last corner erased what would have been a monumental pole for Max. Today’s pole is perhaps a small revenge for that perfect lap that was never completed.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing
