Red Bull 'turned car upside down' to deliver staggering Verstappen pole

Christian Horner has explained how Red Bull "turned the car upside down" to help Max Verstappen deliver a stunning pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Verstappen stunned McLaren to steal a fourth straight Suzuka pole after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had topped every session up until Q3 with the new out-right fastest-ever lap of Suzuka. 

The 1:26.983 eclipsed the 1:27.064 from Sebastian Vettel to earn his final F1 pole position in 2019 and was Verstappen's fourth straight pole position in Japan - matching his previous best. 

Reflecting on the lap, Horner was full of praise for Verstappen, believing the effort to be among the greatest of the Dutchman's career as he banked a 41st career pole position. 

"Unbelievable! We did not expect that, and Max, I mean, what can you say?" Horner told Sky Sports F1. 

"It's just outstanding, and he's extracted every ounce of performance. He and his engineering team have been working on the preparation, getting the tyres in the right window and he's got the most out of it.

"Getting that pole position was completely against the run of form that we've been seeing so it is a massive result for him and a big lift for the team.

"They've turned the car upside down this weekend and in terms of set-up, we've been around the houses with it and Max and his team have done a good job in getting the car into the right window and putting everything together.

"I think the McLarens, if they'd put their laps together, theoretically they are half-a-tenth quicker, but they didn't get it together and Max left nothing on the table.

"That was one of his best qualifying laps ever."