Did Max Verstappen take his best career pole position?

No one saw that one coming. Not even the owner. Max Verstappen, euphoric on the radio after crossing the finish line. However, the die was cast, given the pace displayed by the McLaren since the beginning of the weekend in Suzuka, and even of the year.

But regardless of the conditions and less efficient equipment, you always have to count on the Dutchman and especially keep an eye on him because he is capable of the best when no one expects him. This is how we can sum up this pole position, pipped to the post by the McLarens, beaten by 12 and 44 thousandths respectively for Lando Norris et Oscar piastri.

A perfect tour

His exchange with the pit wall spoke volumes about the performance of Max Verstappen, who took pole position for the 41st time in his career and, more importantly, for the first time in 15 Grands Prix, including Austria last year. This shows how far the driver has come. Red Bull, jostled by those of Woking for many months.

« This is completely crazy, this is completely crazy,” his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase whispered to him, who received a big cry of joy in return from his protégé. Yesssss, goeeeeez! Hoo hoo, wow! What…what a trick (Laughs). Come on guys! »

 

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As the driver himself suggests, he completed a lap that could be described as perfect. This is despite not setting the fastest time in any of the three sectors, unlike Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. But this detail is revealing, highlighting Max Verstappen's ability to be competitive from the first to the last meter of a flying lap.

« I was at the limit on the last lap, he later admitted. It's an incredible reward (…) It's an important moment for us to get back on pole here. »

1:26.983 of perfection: relive the lap that allowed Max Verstappen to secure a 4th consecutive pole at Suzuka 🇯🇵#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/2bQ1TfdLNB

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) April 5, 2025

Where to place the Suzuka pole?

The question of how this performance ranks in Max Verstappen's career therefore inevitably arises. Over time, the now four-time world champion has established himself as one of the best in the sport, aided by the equipment Red Bull has provided him over the past four seasons.

While some pole positions were "easy" given the gap he has long had with the rest of the field, as seen in the 2023 season (12 poles in 22 Grands Prix), the Dutchman has still achieved some remarkable results. This Saturday's at Suzuka is one of them and clearly positions himself on the podium without occupying the third step of it.

Some are already claiming it was the best pole position of his career. But we mustn't forget the one he won in Monaco in 2023. Admittedly, with an RB19 that was way above the rest, Super Max had come up against a tough opponent. Fernando Alonso in the streets of the Principality.

The Spaniard who found his brilliance at the wheel of an astonishing Aston Martin For a long time, Verstappen thought he would secure his 23rd career pole position. But that was without counting on the Dutchman, the last driver who could have dislodged him from first place. And while he started the final sector with a deficit of 0 seconds, Verstappen defied the odds to dash the Asturian's hopes, all by touching the wall twice in this final section of the track, first at the swimming pool and then at the exit of Noghès. A performance that made an impression at the time.

So which one is more beautiful? It's hard to decide between them, as both laps were incredible, even if the contexts are somewhat different. At the time, the Red Bull driver was on cloud nine and was almost expected to take pole position. This time in Japan, no one expected it, as the McLarens dominated the weekend until the end of Q3. Especially since Max Verstappen clearly no longer has the best car in the field. The fact that he beat Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri without a single purple sector also testifies to his talent and his ability to squeeze every last drop of performance out of his car.

Opinions will certainly differ, but one thing is certain: Max Verstappen has once again delighted us. So, in your opinion, which of the two pole positions is the most spectacular?

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