Red Bull boss Christian Horner praised Max Verstappen’s exceptional performance after he secured pole position at Suzuka, stating it was “unbelievable” and unexpected. Verstappen’s team meticulously prepared his tires, optimizing performance to achieve a new lap record, marking him as the season’s fourth different polesitter. In contrast, his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda faced difficulties, finishing 15th due to early errors in Q2 but will start 14th after Carlos Sainz’s penalty. Prior to his impressive lap, Verstappen had struggled with the RB21, even describing it as “undriveable” during the session.
In a conversation with Sky Sports F1 right after the reigning champion finished the race, Red Bull team principal Horner expressed: “Unbelievable. We did not anticipate that and, regarding Max, what can you say? Just an exceptional lap. He’s squeezed every bit of performance out of the car.
“He and his engineering team focused on preparation and ensuring his tyres were perfectly set up, and I believe he maximized the potential today.
“Securing that pole position was completely unexpected based on the recent performance trends. It’s a tremendous achievement for him and a significant boost for the team.”
FACTS AND STATS: Verstappen becomes the season’s fourth distinct polesitter while establishing a new lap record at Suzuka
Although Verstappen showcased impressive speed to claim the top spot in the session, his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda faced challenges, making two mistakes early in his Q2 lap, which left him in 15th position – although he will start the Japanese Grand Prix in 14th due to Carlos Sainz receiving a three-place penalty for impeding Lewis Hamilton.
Before demonstrating his remarkable pace, however, Verstappen had been grappling with issues regarding the RB21, at one stage calling it “undriveable.”