Verstappen Proves a Point at Suzuka but Challenges Remain
World champion Max Verstappen exploded the idea that McLaren might absolutely dominate the Formula One season with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix at the weekend, but the Dutchman was by no means certain he would be able to repeat the feat elsewhere.
Verstappen steered his Red Bull to a pole-to-flag victory for an unprecedented fourth year in a row at Suzuka on Sunday, continuing his love affair with the home circuit of his team’s engine providers Honda.
The four-times world champion was delighted with his weekend in Japan, highlighted by the brilliant qualifying lap that snatched pole position away from McLaren’s Lando Norris, but cautious about what it meant for the remaining 21 races.
“I think we know our limitations,” he said. “So we just have to try and run against that limitation as much as we can. But yeah, it’s still not fixed.
“So this is hopefully going to be fixed soon, but I cannot give you a timeline on that. It’s just about trying to find that limit, which is really sensitive for us at the moment.”
Team principal Christian Horner was clear about what the Suzuka win, coming after dominant wins for McLaren in Australia and China, meant for Red Bull.
