
Max Verstappen admitted that he had a pole lap on Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix after McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were “very special”.
It was Verstappen’s 41st spot in F1, which Red Bulls principal Christian Horner described as “one of his best ever.”
Verstappen is eight points behind Norris in the drivers championship, and will hope to turn his pole into his first victory in 2025 when the lights go out at 6 a.m. Sunday, live broadcast Sky Sports F1.
The dominant world champion said: “I have something really nice elsewhere too.”
“But I think if you look at the start of our season, even this weekend, I would say it was very unexpected. I think that might make it very special.”
So, where is Verstappen’s latest pole position in his 41 career careers? Before we voted in our poll, we have picked another of his excellent qualifying matches for you to review.
Dutch Grand Prix 2021
As the exciting 2021 title battle heated up, Verstappen took the pole from Lewis Hamilton under a huge pressure on a group of men at the Dutch Grand Prix, and his then Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was eliminated in Q1 with the help of Drs without the main straight.
Monaco Grand Prix 2023
Verstappen, arguably one of the greatest endings of the qualifying race, brought one out of two tenths out of Fernando Alonso, denied the Aston Martin driver pole on the streets of Monaco.
Japan Grand Prix 2023
Later that year, Verstappen beat more than half of the race in the third quarter, and after Horner flew the Dutch with a stunning knee over the high-speed track, Horner described it as a “shocking performance.”
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2024
It seems Norris will end Imola’s 2024 Verstappen’s pole-shaped streak after his first run in the third quarter until the Red Bull drivers fuse everything together, including Nico Hulkenberg’s slide, giving it eight consecutive poles.
Japan Grand Prix 2025
Or is Verstappen’s best pole position his latest position? Almost everyone thought McLaren or George Russell would be in pole position, but from nowhere to grab it, Verstappen stole the header and showed why he was the best driver on the grid.
Sky Sports F1’s live Japanese GP program
Sunday, April 6
- 4.30am: Japanese GPs Gathering: Grand Prize Sunday*
- 6:00 am: Japan Award*
- 8 am: Japan GP reaction: Checkered flag*
- 9:00 am: TED’s notebook*
*Also live in the main event of Sky Sports
The recipe is live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend at the iconic Suzuki Tour of the Japan Grand Prix. Streaming with Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel at any time