SUZUKA, Japan — It was a display of sheer perfection. Magical. Truly inspirational. Words struggled to capture the essence of Max Verstappen`s victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, a win that was undeniably special.
While the race itself might not be remembered as an all-time classic, Verstappen`s performance throughout the weekend was a masterclass. His victory was built upon an exceptional qualifying lap, which edged out the McLarens for pole position, followed by his signature race pace and unwavering composure. He expertly managed to keep the two orange McLarens at bay throughout Sunday`s race, even amidst growing belief that they possess the fastest car in Formula 1.
Speaking immediately after the race, Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, perfectly summarized the performance: `That was perfection. Simply perfection, Max. Fantastic.` Few could argue. Apart from a brief period during the pit stops and a close moment with Lando Norris upon exiting the pits, Verstappen maintained complete control from the front. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed the four-time world champion`s drive as `inspirational` during his congratulatory radio message.
This victory moved Verstappen within a single point of Norris in the drivers` championship standings after just three races. This is a remarkable achievement considering McLaren`s strong pace this season and Red Bull`s ongoing adjustments with their RB21 car. The weekend further solidified Verstappen`s reputation as a driver capable of achieving extraordinary results with any car at his disposal.
Undisputed Dominance
Prior to the Japanese Grand Prix, much of the focus was on Red Bull`s decision to give Verstappen his third teammate in just four races, with Yuki Tsunoda replacing Liam Lawson. Lawson, unfortunately, became the latest to struggle in the second Red Bull seat, finishing at the back in both the sprint and grand prix in China. Tsunoda initially showed promising pace, closely matching Verstappen in Friday practice, but a less-than-ideal lap in Q2 meant he qualified lower down the grid when it mattered most.
Verstappen`s phenomenal pole lap in Q3 highlighted the gap between the two teammates. Fernando Alonso, a two-time world champion and Le Mans winner, watched in admiration as Verstappen’s lap unfolded, pushing him to the top of the timing charts.
`He is an exceptional driver, proving it every weekend,` Alonso commented afterwards. `My hat is off to him. I believe his qualifying lap was solely down to his talent. The car is clearly not at a level to contend for pole or even the top five, yet he manages to produce these magical laps and weekends. Currently, he is the best, the benchmark for all of us, and we must keep improving to reach his level.`
This high standard set by Verstappen has been at the heart of Red Bull`s challenges with their second car. Verstappen`s exceptional talent has been evident since his Formula 1 debut, but his ability to push every car to its absolute limit, and often beyond, has become increasingly clear in recent seasons. In 2024, despite starting with a dominant car, his championship victory relied on consistently scoring points as Red Bull`s performance began to decline. Teammates have simply struggled to match his level.
A simplified explanation of Red Bull`s car design approach might be: `If Verstappen can drive it, we will build it.` This philosophy has yielded four drivers` championships. However, a consequence emerged last year as the RB20 became increasingly challenging to handle – an unpredictable machine that even Verstappen grew to dislike by mid-season. Sergio Pérez`s performance suffered significantly, and Red Bull lost the constructors` championship, although Verstappen`s individual brilliance secured his fourth consecutive title.
The true extent of the RB21`s limitations remains unclear within the F1 paddock, partly due to the lack of a comparable reference point from the second car. The age-old debate of driver versus machine continues in Formula 1, with some suggesting the Red Bull is better than commonly perceived. Regardless of individual opinions, few at Red Bull could recall a more complete performance than Verstappen`s in Japan.
`I believe this was one of Max`s finest weekends,` Horner, Red Bull`s team boss since its inception, commented on Sunday. `We fundamentally changed the car setup. He collaborated closely with the engineering team. Ultimately, we provided him with a car he could exploit in Q3, resulting in an incredible lap. He then converted that into a hard-fought victory today in a direct battle. This puts him just one point behind in the Drivers` Championship. We managed to get the car into a good operating window, and Max Verstappen demonstrated why he deserves the number one on his car.`
The praise for Verstappen was loudest after qualifying, but his position on the top step of the podium, flanked by the two McLaren drivers considered his main championship rivals, underscored the high regard he is held in throughout the paddock.
When asked by ESPN if his performance with the RB21 felt as special to him as it appeared to others, Verstappen replied: `Yes, it does. It signifies that I deeply care, even though it hasn`t been the easiest start to the year for us. We are not yet where we want to be in terms of performance, which is no secret. But this weekend has been truly, really nice.`
`I disregard both excessive praise and criticism. I remain focused and concentrate on my own performance. I will continue to work hard and keep pushing.`
Can Verstappen Turn It Into a Three-Way Title Race?
In the first three races, three different drivers have converted pole position into victories: Norris in Australia, Piastri in China, and now Verstappen in Japan. These three drivers also shared the podium at Suzuka. Norris had previously dismissed claims of McLaren having an unbeatable car as `nonsense` during media day, indicating the team sees Verstappen and Red Bull as significant contenders in their internal title battle.
`We treat Max and Red Bull as formidable opponents,` stated McLaren team principal Andrea Stella on Sunday. `When Max elevates his performance so significantly, we must execute flawlessly in qualifying and extract every possible millisecond.`
Red Bull`s Max Verstappen along with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc react to the Japan GP.
Whether Verstappen can sustain this challenge throughout the season is a major storyline, especially if Red Bull can improve their car`s performance as McLaren did with theirs a year ago. When asked if he believed Verstappen could remain in the championship fight all year, Alonso recalled his own 2012 season, where he narrowly missed out on a third world championship in a car considered only the fourth fastest at times.
Shaking his head, Alonso responded: `I`m unsure. I have been in that position before, fighting for world championships with the fourth-fastest car. Ultimately, it is difficult, as it was for me to beat [Sebastian] Vettel. I hope he can contend until the end, but they need to improve their car somewhat.`
`He has already won four championships, so he can compete even with a slightly less competitive car. However, it is challenging, and I believe people underestimate how difficult it is to perform perfectly every weekend, which he is doing so far. It reminds me of my 2012 season, when our car wasn`t the best, but we fought for the championship. Whether he can win it in the end, we shall see. I hope for him that he can.`
McLaren`s internal competition will also benefit Verstappen. Piastri`s strong start to the season has seen his pace consistently closer to Norris`s than last year. The fact that the Australian suggested a position swap with Norris late in the race hints at the potential headaches McLaren might face with their two highly talented drivers as the season progresses.
As history shows with teammate rivalries in championship battles, a flashpoint is inevitable, especially in a 24-race season. Any disruption within a rival team could be advantageous to a driver as skilled as Red Bull`s lead driver, potentially giving him the opportunity to secure a fifth title, irrespective of the car`s development.
Verstappen`s response to the suggestion of a three-way championship fight was characteristically understated. When asked directly, he said: `I`m not sure. It is still very early in a long season. Many things can happen. What`s important is to always maximize our performance. That`s the only thing we can control, and that`s what I will focus on.`
Verstappen`s greatness is undeniable – understated, relentless, and impossible to ignore.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood