Verstappen Shines at Suzuka, But Red Bull Still Struggles

Max Verstappen claims a stunning Suzuka win, but despite his skill, doubts linger over Red Bull’s performance against McLaren’s pace.

Max Verstappen continues to prove why he’s at the top of his game. After securing a stunning pole position yesterday at Suzuka, the Dutch driver put on a masterful performance during the race.

Facing pressure from McLaren F1, Verstappen held his ground, remaining calm and error-free to claim his first victory of the season. This win also brought him to within a single point of Lando Norris in the championship standings.

Despite the win, Verstappen believes his success was more about his driving than the performance of his Red Bull, which still has some ground to make up in terms of pure performance.

Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, referred to the race as “perfect” over the radio. Did Max share the same sentiment?

“Yeah, it was a fun race. For the entire race, I saw two orange cars in my mirrors, and especially during the last 20 laps, we were pushing hard,” Verstappen said. “We could feel the tires degrading more and more, but we had to keep fighting, always at the limit. It ended up being better than I expected, to be honest. I think the cooler track temperature helped us a bit, reducing tire overheating, and I’m really proud of this result.”

Verstappen credited his pole position as a key factor in securing the win, especially since Suzuka is a tough track to overtake on. “The cars have more downforce each year, making it harder to pass. There’s only one DRS zone here, so it’s really tough. The tire degradation seemed low, which allowed us to make just one pit stop. That definitely helped. But still, we maximized the weekend, and I’m very proud of everyone.”

With the McLarens pushing him throughout the race, Verstappen had to manage his tires closely. Was he ever worried about them not lasting?

“You never really know how long the tires will last, but I’d say about five laps from the end, I thought, ‘Okay, the tires are still holding up at a normal level, they haven’t gone out of their working window.’ So, I just thought, ‘From now on, no mistakes and we should be fine.'”

Fernando Alonso praised Verstappen’s pole performance, stating that only he could pull that off. Does Verstappen feel like he’s performing at the highest level of his career?

“Yeah, I think so. It shows that I really care, even though this hasn’t been the easiest start to the season for us. We’re not where we want to be in terms of performance, and that’s no secret. But this weekend has been really enjoyable. Sometimes you get these moments where you put in some really great laps, and luckily, the car balance improved a bit during qualifying. So, yeah, it’s nice, but I’m the type of person who doesn’t listen too much to either positive or negative feedback. I stay focused on my performance and keep working hard.”

A tense moment with Lando Norris during the pit stop exit could have been a turning point, but Verstappen remained calm, while it seemed Norris was the one who panicked, running off into the grass.

“Yeah, I think the grass on the right wasn’t well cut. I think Lando saw it too and made sure it was well-trimmed!” Verstappen joked.

A Three-Way Title Battle?

The big question on everyone’s mind is whether Verstappen can maintain this level of performance throughout the season, especially since Red Bull doesn’t seem to be on the same level as McLaren in terms of raw speed.

“I don’t think so, but honestly, like I said, today we take it. It was really hard to overtake here. Bahrain is a completely different circuit, much tougher on the tires with more overheating. We still have work to do, but it shows that if we get everything right, we can be there,” Verstappen explained. “But we want to do better than just be there sometimes. So we’ll keep working hard and see where we stand in Bahrain. I hope we continue improving the car, especially in terms of corner balance, and maybe that will unlock more pace overall.”

Are Red Bull’s issues now behind them, or is there still a lot of work to be done on the car?

“I think we know our limits. We just need to push those limits as far as we can. But no, it’s not fully solved yet. I hope it will be soon, but I can’t give you a timeline. It’s about finding that limit, which is very sensitive for us right now.”

A Title Fight With McLaren Drivers?

Is the title battle truly a three-way fight between Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Verstappen? How is the atmosphere at Red Bull?

“The atmosphere? It’s good. I don’t know… The season is very long. A lot can happen, right? I think what’s important is to try to maximize your performance every time. That’s the only thing you can control. That’s what I try to do, and we’ll see, in what, 21 races? Where we stand, for better or for worse.”

Verstappen’s Tribute to Honda After Japan GP

Max Verstappen took a moment to acknowledge Honda, Red Bull’s partner, who competed in their final home Grand Prix with the team. Could Verstappen be reunited with Honda next year, at Aston Martin?

“Yesterday was already a great day for us, and to follow it up with a win today is fantastic. Honestly, the relationship we’ve had with Honda has been incredible. I’ve really enjoyed working with them — their way of working, their professionalism, their dedication. They’ve given me so much. Together, we’ve won four drivers’ titles and two constructors’ titles. That’s amazing and unforgettable. And yes, it crossed my mind during the race. I thought, ‘It would be crazy to win here today, especially for Honda, at their home track.’ That probably gave me a little extra motivation to stay ahead. But yes, it’s a nice way for them to say goodbye. We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend, to be honest.”

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Max Verstappen’s Victory Highlights McLaren Challenge Ahead Max Verstappen’s Victory Highlights McLaren Challenge Ahead