Happy, but visibly surprised and full of disbelief. That was Max Verstappen’s reaction after the unexpected pole position in Japan following the qualifying round. “This is a highlight, fantastic. Driving at the limit pays off here.”
The ‘here’ refers to the Suzuka circuit, a track where Verstappen feels like a fish in water. And where, even with a difficult-to-handle RB21, he proves to be the fastest. His achievement elicited a primal scream when he heard he had secured the pole. “I’m surprised myself,” Verstappen said in his first reaction afterwards. “We tried to find the best possible balance in the car, which was not easy. Not even in the qualifying round. But it kept getting better and then at the end, it’s all about full throttle.”
This led to P1 in Japan, something that offers perspective for the race, as the new asphalt also seems to suit Verstappen. However, the four-time world champion is not counting his chickens before they hatch. “It will certainly be a challenge,” he points out, referring to keeping the McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris behind him. “Maybe there will be some rain, who knows. I will do my best,” said Verstappen, still in disbelief.
