McLaren driver Oscar Piastri says he wasn’t surprised to see Max Verstappen qualify his Red Bull ⭕on pole position for Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix.

McLaren went into Saturday’s qualifyin🃏g at Suzuka as the outright favourite, having put on a dominant performance in the opening two rounds of the season in🌌 Australia and China.

And although both Piastri and teammate168澳洲5最新开奖结果: Lando Norris looked rapid in Q3, they ultimately had to concede defeat to a fast-charging 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Verstappen, who snatched the top spot by 0.012s.

A pole position for Red Bull in Japan had seemed unlikely as the RB21 had been both off the pace and tricky to drive in 2025, with Verstappen himself complaining about ༒the characteristics of the car on multiple occasions.

But for Piastri, who ultimately qualified third, the Dutchman’s performaꦜnce in qualifying wasn’🍷t completely unexpected.

“I think the others have not been as far away as peoꦬple think,” he said. “You never quite know with engine modes and stuff like that.

“This morning was pretty ti⛎ght. It's not a massive surprise. I think Max has obviously done a great job getting on pole.

“I think we've still got a great꧒ car for tomorrow and [we are] still in the fight for win⭕.”

Norris also praised Verstappen for break🅠ing the lap record on a newly-resurfaced Suzuka, but was satisfied to qꦺualify on the front row.

“I’m happy,” he said. “Congrats to Max, he did a good job, hats off. Yoꦯu got to credit something when it's a lap that is♏ that good that he must have done.

“I’m happy because I  feel I got everything out of the car today. [The margin], just it’ꦕs tiny. Was there probably that much in it? Yes, but Max did an amazing lap.

“We are happy for both of us to be up there and for us to be fighting for pole. It's good but not enough.”