Max Verstappen: “The most important thing is that we have a competitive car”

After surviving a post-session investigation for forcing Lando Norris off the track, Max Verstappen could breathe a sigh of relief on Saturday evening as his pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix was confirmed.

The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver was put under investigation after Norris was pushed onto the grass exiting 130R as both drivers prepared for their first flying laps in Q3 at the Suzuka International Racing Course.

Stewards handed Verstappen a reprimand, his first of the season, meaning his pole position was safe, and going into Sunday’s race, he starts from the best place possible to secure his second consecutive Drivers’ Championship triumph.

“It was pretty incredible to drive here again, especially in qualifying when you are on low fuel, these cars really come alive through the first sectors,” said Verstappen.  “I am really happy to be on pole and in general, just super happy to be back here in Japan.

“During qualifying, I lost a part of the duct from the car in my final lap so that’s why I couldn’t really improve, nevertheless the first lap was good enough.”

Verstappen feels Red Bull have given him a good race car this weekend in Japan, and he is confident he can contend for the race victory regardless of whether its wet or dry come Sunday afternoon.

“It will be interesting to see what the weather does tomorrow, there may be rain during the race, I am quite confident that we have a good race car so let’s see what we can do,” he said.  

“I’m not thinking about the championship still, I’m just taking it day by day. The most important thing is that we have a competitive car, and we had that today in qualifying. We still need that perfect race.”

“I have to push tomorrow to be in contention” – Sergio Pérez

Team-mate Sergio Pérez will line-up fourth on the grid for Sunday’s race, with last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix winner admitting to not feeling as confident behind the wheel of the RB18 as Verstappen was.

The Mexican was fastest in Q2 but was unable to stay ahead of Verstappen or the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers in Q3, and all his attention now is focused on moving forward on Sunday.

“It wasn’t a great day for me in qualifying but we will try everything we possibly can for tomorrow,” said Pérez.  “It doesn’t change my life much if I am third or fourth, the most important thing is that we have a strong race car and we are able to progress through the field.

“I have to push tomorrow to be in contention and I have to be in the mix. I believe I can be strong in the race, so I am massively looking forward to it. I think it’s too early to predict the weather because it can change so rapidly here, the rain could come at any moment in the race or it might hit earlier.

“I think strategy will play a role tomorrow and if I am able to get a Ferrari at the start it would be good. You have to be quick around here and the degradation is pretty high so I think it will come down to who has the better pace.”

Sergio Pérez will line-up fourth on the grid in Japan – Credit: Octane Photographic Ltd