McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says he has “stopped being surprised” by Max Verstappen after the Dutchman stormed to pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.
It appeared the fight for first in qualifying was between his two drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, before the Dutchman strung together an all-time classic lap to snatch pole away from the papaya pair.
Despite McLaren’s performance advantage at the start the F1 season, Stella does not feel the session in Japan can merely be reduced to one that “got away” from the Woking squad.
“I think a bit of both, because we seemed to have a very competitive car,” Stella told media including RacingNews365 when asked if that was the case or if he just had to tip his hat to Verstappen.
“Strong laps by both Lando and Oscar in Q1 and Q2, in the first run of Q3 by Oscar, so it looked like we were on the way to pole position. Lando managed to improve significantly on his second set.
“But with Max, I have stopped being surprised. He’s such an incredible driver, and for me, this is one of the many cases in which we have to just acknowledge and say: ‘hats off to Max.’
“Well done in putting together, I guess, what was the potential of his car in conditions that were tricky with the wind, and the grip a little inconsistent, even if there was high grip.”
McLaren anticipate a ‘busy and eventful race’
Just 44-thousandths of a second separated the top three at Suzuka, underlining just how close the battle for pole was.
However, Stella remains confident that his drivers are still in a “good position” for the race itself, which looks set to be influenced by adverse, or at least changeable, weather.
“I’m sure Lando and Oscar will have had a few milliseconds here and there, putting everything together,” Stella told Sky Sports F1.
“But putting everything together is easy to say on paper, but it’s not easy to do when you are in the car, especially at such a truck as this one in Suzuka.
“So positive result. Good position to start the race tomorrow, and we will also see what the rain situation will be. So that could be still quite a busy and eventful race ahead of us.”
