‘In that automobile you would not have even seen me’

Max Verstappen has quipped that if he was driving McLaren’s Method 1 automobile “then you definately wouldn’t have seen me” regardless of his dominant pole and victory on the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Purple Bull driver took his fourth consecutive win at Suzuka, keeping off each McLaren drivers within the grand prix on Sunday after securing a shocking pole place on Saturday, which accomplished a outstanding turnaround having appeared off the tempo on Friday.

“Once I got here right here, I did not count on to win right here in any respect – and after Friday, under no circumstances,” Verstappen mentioned to Viaplay after the race.

“Beginning on pole was a very powerful factor this weekend. McLaren I believe was sooner, however they could not get into the DRS to make a transfer.”

Requested for his response to the victory and whether or not the win was fully right down to the driving force, Verstappen responded light-heartedly: “I am very proud of what I am doing, I do not even wish to give it some thought if I might been in that different automobile [McLaren]. Then you definitely would not have seen me.”

Verstappen was then fast to name it a staff effort with Purple Bull having unlocked extra tempo from the RB21 automobile.

“Ultimately it is at all times a staff that works effectively collectively, with GP [Gianpiero Lambiase] and this weekend I additionally had one other efficiency engineer, Hugh Fowl,” he mentioned. “I labored with him till the top of 2020 as effectively and that truly went rather well.

“Ultimately, we made the suitable selections earlier than we went into qualifying. If you happen to take heed to the onboards, it runs very easily between me and GP. These are issues which are crucial although.”

Regardless of his first breakthrough win in 2025, Verstappen was additionally fast to mood expectations heading into the subsequent spherical in Bahrain only one level behind Lando Norris on the high of the drivers’ standings.

“This was an important end result, however it was troublesome to overhaul and qualifying was crucial right here,” he mentioned.

“This doesn’t imply that every thing is now instantly hosanna and that we’re going to win all of the races, however we will be very proud of this.”

Three components that helped Purple Bull

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing

Photograph by: Mario Renzi – Method 1 – Getty Photos

Verstappen detailed three important components that aided Purple Bull within the Japanese GP: the distinction between clear and soiled air, low tyre put on on the brand new observe floor and decrease temperatures – a notable change given the earlier Purple Bull automobiles would usually carry out stronger relative to rivals in scorching circumstances.

“You possibly can see that on the finish of a stint they have been getting nearer once more and making an attempt to assault, as a result of my tyres have been getting a bit too scorching then,” he defined.

“I believe it helped us that it was a bit colder immediately, so we had much less overheating of the tyres – that’s nonetheless an issue for us.

“Quite a lot of quick corners and that makes it very exhausting to observe – the tyres get very popular if you get near somebody.

“The automobiles get higher yearly as effectively, with lots of soiled air, so it simply will get tougher and tougher. When the lap occasions are fairly shut collectively with out lots of tyre degradation, then it turns into very troublesome.”

Pictures from Japanese GP – Race