“You’d Probably Crap Yourself”: Max Verstappen’s Wild Ride to Pole in the RB21

Max Verstappen Claims Pole in Japan – But the Car Is Still a Beast

Max Verstappen might have snatched pole position at Suzuka, but don’t let that fool you—he’s not exactly cruising. In classic Max fashion, the reigning champ threw out one of the most honest (and hilarious) takes you’ll hear in a post-qualifying press conference: “You’d probably crap yourself if you tried to drive this car.”

That was his response when talking about the current state of the RB21—Red Bull’s latest beast of a machine that, despite being fast, is still a handful to drive. Max  Verstappen’s brutal honesty came right after putting together a near-perfect lap that edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.012 seconds. It was tight. Like, blink-and-you-miss-it tight.

But behind that lap time was a session where Max had to push past a car that, in his own words, still doesn’t feel right. “It’s not easy to drive,” he said. “But we found some balance and just did what we could.”

The Lap That Got Him There

Let’s talk about that pole lap. It wasn’t just fast—it was gutsy. Suzuka’s a track that demands respect. You can’t fake your way around it. From the iconic ‘Esses’ in Sector 1 to the brutal high-speed commitment of 130R, every corner asks a question. Max Verstappen answered each one, but not without effort.

He admitted he wasn’t fully confident going into that final run. “I just told myself to go for it,” he said. “Don’t overthink it, just push.” That’s a mental switch not every driver can flip. Especially when the car underneath you still feels unpredictable.

This wasn’t just a show of skill—it was trust. Trust in himself, trust in his team, and maybe a little faith that the RB21 wouldn’t suddenly bite back mid-corner. It didn’t. And the result was a lap that made the difference.

RB21: Quick, But Not Comfortable

It’s strange talking about a Red Bull car that’s uncomfortable. We’re so used to them being bulletproof—point, shoot, win. But this season’s RB21? It’s got quirks. Max Verstappen hasn’t been shy about saying it.

“We’re still figuring some things out,” he said. “Trying different setups, different directions.”

When a driver talks like that in race week four, it tells you something. The floor isn’t as stable as they want. The balance might shift between sessions. The car might be super sensitive to temperature, wind, or even fuel load. It’s not that the car is bad—it’s that it demands more from the driver.

And while Max thrives in that chaos, it’s also clear he wants it sorted. The scary part for the rest of the grid? Red Bull is still putting it on pole before they’ve even got the car dialed in.

What About Checo?

Let’s talk about the other Red Bull for a sec. Sergio Pérez is doing fine, results-wise—but the gap to Max is still there. Suzuka qualifying made that clear again.

This isn’t new, and it’s not a “bash Checo” thing. It’s about how narrow the RB21’s operating window seems to be. Max Verstappen can handle that kind of car. He can feel grip where others sense instability. Checo, like most drivers, wants a more forgiving baseline. He wants predictability. The RB21 doesn’t offer much of that right now.

This dynamic is telling. Because if Red Bull really does get on top of the car’s weaknesses mid-season, we might suddenly see Checo back on stronger form. But until then, it’s Max Verstappen doing the heavy lifting—and doing it damn well.

McLaren Smells Blood

The biggest takeaway from qualifying? McLaren’s serious. This isn’t a one-off. Lando Norris has been hovering right there all weekend. The way he attacked the lap—especially the final chicane—was pure confidence.

Lando’s been building toward this moment for years. The calm, the speed, the subtle jabs at Max in pressers—it’s all there. He’s not just trying to be fast. He’s trying to win. And he knows that getting under Max’s skin starts with beating him on Saturdays.

The fact that it was only 0.012 seconds between them? That’s a statement. If the McLaren can hold its tires together over a race stint, we’ve got a real battle.

Oscar Piastri’s also not far behind, which makes McLaren dangerous strategically. If they can split Red Bulls in a race, they can force Max into playing defense—a rare position for him lately.

The Grid Behind: Ferrari, Merc, and the Others

Ferrari’s pace at Suzuka was a mixed bag. One-lap speed is there, but tire wear is still a problem. That’s been the story for them since forever, and it hasn’t changed much this season. Sainz and Leclerc are doing what they can, but they need a car that can go the distance—literally.

Mercedes is in limbo. Hamilton and Russell are making the best of a car that feels like it was designed by committee. Fast in some corners, weird in others, and just inconsistent overall. Their updates seem to help, but only just. Right now, they’re not in the Max Verstappen/McLaren fight.

Which brings us back to Red Bull: they might not have a perfect car, but they’ve still got enough to stay ahead. That says more about Max than it does the machine.

Why Max’s Honesty Matters

So why is everyone still quoting the “crap yourself” line?

Because it cuts through the noise. It reminds everyone that what these guys do isn’t easy. We watch F1 and get used to seeing perfection. Pole laps that look effortless. Onboards that make 300km/h look chill. But inside the cockpit, it’s chaos. Nerve, instinct, calculation, fear.

Max pulling back the curtain—even with a throwaway comment—makes the sport feel real. He’s not trying to be PR-perfect. He’s just saying what’s true. And when that truth comes from a guy who’s destroying the field most weekends, it hits harder.

It’s also a bit of a warning. If he’s still wrestling the car, and still putting it on pole? Good luck to anyone who thinks they’re just gonna stroll past him on race day.

Suzuka Sunday: What to Watch

Tire deg is huge at Suzuka. If Red Bull gets it right, Max can manage the race from the front. But if McLaren is close on pace and better on tire life, things could get spicy.

The undercut is strong here. Pit strategy’s gonna matter. So will safety cars—one bad call could flip the race. And then there’s the weather. Forecast’s been unpredictable all week. A mid-race drizzle could shake everything up.

Max Verstappen isn’t unbeatable, especially not in a car he doesn’t fully trust. But he’s still the favorite. Because that’s what great drivers do—they win even when things aren’t perfect.

Final Word: This Ain’t Over

Red Bull’s still on top. Max Verstappen’s still Max Verstappen. But there are cracks forming—not in performance, but in comfort. That’s enough to keep the rest of the field hungry.

McLaren’s close. Ferrari’s lurking. Mercedes is… trying.

And Max? He’s out there muscling around a fast but flawed car like it’s a kart, cracking jokes about how the rest of us would s**t ourselves if we tried the same. That’s the vibe right now. Not dominance—defiance. And we’re all better for it.