VIDEO – Relive Max Verstappen’s exceptional pole position with onboard camera

Is this how you recognize a great champion? Max Verstappen splashed the Suzuka circuit with his talent by setting a legendary lap during qualifying on Saturday. Having secured his 41st career pole position, you only had to hear his roar of joy over the radio to understand how much this one meant to him.

Sa Red Bull gave him a hard time throughout the weekend, sometimes because of the lack of grip of his front axle, sometimes because of its rigidity and the time lost when passing over the kerbs. But the Dutchman was able to put all that aside when starting Q3, where he distinguished himself with a brilliant lap, which put him on pole position with a 0″012 advantage over Lando Norris, the overwhelming favorite. The Briton was able to measure what still separates him from his friend to be among the greats of this sport.

In a season where the gaps are closing, Verstappen showed panache and champion driving to ensure he started in the lead for the fourth time in a row at Suzuka. The first corner, the scene of memorable clashes in the past, notably between Cheers and Senna, promises to be very hot on Sunday morning when Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will fight for the lead of the race.

Also pay attention to Oscar piastri et Charles Leclerc, who do not intend to make any bones on the second row. The Australian, winner in China, knows how to be offensive at the start, as he proved to his garage neighbor last year at Monza by stealing first place with authority. Behind them, the drivers Mercedes will start from the third line in front of Isack Hadjar and Lewis HamiltonIn qualifying, the student (7th) overtook the master (8th)!

F1 – Japanese GP

Max Verstappen's legendary lap on video 

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