Max Verstappen gave chilling reply to Red Bull after Japan GP qualifying

23 September 2023 , 08:08

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Max Verstappen took pole at Suzuka with a remarkable lap (Image: AP)

Karun Chandhok described Max Verstappen's pole lap at the Japanese Grand Prix as "one of the great qualifying laps in F1 history".

The Dutchman produced a remarkable lap to secure the front grid slot for Sunday's race at Suzuka. He was more than half-a-second ahead of Oscar Piastri, who qualified second, and the only man to set a lap time which started with 1.28.

As it turned out, he was pretty pleased about it. His first words over the radio to his Red Bull team after the session were simply: "There you go, 28," making it sound like he had just taken a stroll through the park.

Speaking after the session, team principal Christian Horner explained that it was a response to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase who had been egging him on.

He said: "GP started winding him up for the last run to say, 'Let's see a .28 in there'. I said to GP that I'd like to see four wheels on the car at the end of it! That first run looked enough to get the job done, but then he just went quicker again.

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"All his laps were stunning today... a mind-blowing performance. I think what we've witnessed today is something very special. That last lap... just have a look at turn five. That first sector was absolutely mighty."

Sky Sports pundit Chandhok agreed with that assessment. He looked and sounded awestruck as he said: "I'm still breathless watching that. I think that was one of the great qualifying laps we've seen in F1 history. There's not much left on the table.

"The detail with which he drove, pinching little bits down on the entry to Spoon Curve, 130R, not using all the width – he thought about every detail and, to me, that's a driver who is ahead of the car. Christian was saying that's one of the special laps and he's right. If they didn't have Max in the car, they'd be on the second row of the grid."

Piastri was second ahead of Lando Norris in third on a strong day for McLaren. Charles Leclerc was fourth with Sergio Perez fifth quickest, putting the other Red Bull within striking distance of the podium for Sunday's race.

And that means the team is on the verge of making more F1 history. If Red Bull can outscore both Mercedes and Ferrari at Suzuka, the constructors' title will be secure with six full race weekends still to go in the season.

Daniel Moxon