Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s pole position lap at the Japanese Grand Prix as “one of his best laps in Qualifying ever,” following a stunning performance that defied expectations at the Suzuka Circuit on Saturday. Verstappen’s remarkable effort saw him edge out McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a thrilling qualifying session, securing his first pole of the 2025 Formula 1 season and setting a new lap record at the iconic track.
The Dutchman’s time of 1:26.983 not only clinched pole but also underscored his exceptional skill on a circuit renowned for its demanding high-speed corners and technical complexity. Coming into the weekend, McLaren had dominated practice sessions, with Norris and Piastri appearing poised to lock out the front row. However, Verstappen delivered a flawless final lap in Q3, beating Norris by a mere 0.012 seconds and leaving the paddock in awe.
Horner, speaking to Sky Sports F1 shortly after the session, described the lap as “unbelievable” and a testament to Verstappen’s talent and preparation. “We did not expect that,” Horner admitted. “Max and his engineering team were working tirelessly to get the tires in the right window, and he extracted every ounce of performance out of the RB21 today. It was pure class.”
The achievement was all the more impressive given Red Bull’s struggles earlier in the weekend. Verstappen had not topped any of the three practice sessions, with the team grappling with balance issues in the RB21. Yet, through meticulous setup adjustments and Verstappen’s razor-sharp execution, Red Bull turned the tide when it mattered most. “We turned the car upside down to find the right balance,” Horner revealed, highlighting the extensive efforts behind the scenes.
Verstappen himself expressed delight at the result, calling it a “proper highlight” of his season so far. “The last lap was just flat out,” he said. “Around here, being on the limit—or maybe even a bit over in places—is incredibly rewarding. Given how our season started, this is very unexpected and probably a very special one.” His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, echoed the sentiment over the team radio, labeling the lap “insane.”
The pole marks Verstappen’s fourth consecutive P1 start at Suzuka, reinforcing his dominance at a track where he has won from pole in each of the last three years. It also ends a 17-month drought since his last pole in Austria in 2024, signaling a potential resurgence for the four-time world champion and Red Bull amid a fiercely competitive 2025 season.
However, Horner tempered expectations for the race, acknowledging McLaren’s formidable pace. “The McLarens, if they’d put their laps together on theoretical pace, should have been ahead of us,” he noted. With Norris starting alongside Verstappen on the front row and Piastri in third, Sunday’s Grand Prix promises a fierce battle at the front.
Elsewhere, Verstappen’s new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, endured a challenging debut for Red Bull, exiting in Q2 and qualifying 15th at his home race. The contrast between the two drivers underscored Verstappen’s ability to extract the maximum from a car that remains a work in progress.