Verstappen Remains Level-Headed

His pole position in Japan came as a surprise to Max Verstappen. The reigning world champion continues to emphasise that the problems in his Red Bull have not been solved overnight, despite an impressive lap at Suzuka.

I saw my name appear on the boards at the top. I knew that Oscar Piastri was still coming, but I was already very happy with this, Verstappen reflected on qualifying on Saturday. The Australian turned out to be slower at the finish line, just like his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

So Verstappen will start at the front again on Sunday for the first time since June last year. Very unexpected, he admitted. “There was a lot of joy when I crossed the finish line. I have had many great poles. But if you look at our start of the season and also see how it went so far this weekend, then this one is very special.”

Suzuka is considered a drivers’ circuit and is therefore popular among drivers. If I can enjoy a track, it is always more fun. It was great to drive this qualifying, Verstappen agreed. You really have to go for it here, especially in that first sector. I wondered a few times if I would stay on the track on that last lap.

The Red Bull is still a difficult car to drive. Also for Verstappen. It is currently very difficult for us to get the balance right. That remains problematic through the corners, Verstappen explained.

The Red Bull RB21 remains fickle. Sometimes the car slides a bit on the front wheels, then the rear breaks out again.

By continuing to improve and experiment throughout the weekend, we eventually found a balance that was at least driveable for me. I was able to push a bit more.

With little fuel in the car and over one lap, you can mask the problems quite nicely, Verstappen said. But it is not that everything has suddenly been solved by this pole.

We clearly still have problems, which are also not easy to solve. We are working hard on that.

Those problems also have an impact on the confidence that Verstappen has in his Red Bull. I simply do not go into a qualifying lap like that very comfortably and with confidence.

With a time on the boards in the final part of qualifying, Verstappen decided to go for it in his final attempt. That doesn’t always work, but it did this time. In several combinations of corners I really hoped the car would hold up, and fortunately that turned out to be the case. This was great, and also good for the team that it succeeded.

Verstappen’s pole position is a nice boost, but on Sunday he still has 53 laps to go on the gruelling Suzuka, a circuit that is also a challenge for the tyres. That remains the strong point of the McLarens, who start just behind Verstappen. The preparation was also seriously disrupted by a series of red flags.

We did what we could with our race pace, but we also have to look at the weather. Rain is forecast, Verstappen said ahead of the race. We just have to drive the perfect race. Even then I don’t know how fast we’re going to be.

That the McLarens are going to join the battle is a given for Verstappen. It will be difficult to keep them behind me. Not that I will accept it easily if they turn out to be faster, we will fight.

But in the end you also have to look at the long term. The season is still long. And you also have to score points. I will start for it at least once.