Alonso marvels at Verstappen’s pole position performance: ‘only he can do it'

Dominika Jordan
Apr 5, 2025, 5:23 AM ET

Alonso hails Verstappen’s ‘magical’ Japan pole lap, saying ‘only he can do it’ with such skill.

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

SUZUKA, Japan -- Fernando Alonso expressed sheer admiration for Max Verstappen's "magical" pole position lap at the Japanese Grand Prix, describing it as a standout moment in a challenging season.

Verstappen’s blistering lap defied expectations, edging out title favorite Lando Norris by a mere 0.012 seconds. The lap left Alonso, who paused his media interviews to watch the screens, shaking his head in disbelief and laughing before starting an interview with Dutch TV channel ViaPlay.

"Only he can do it," Alonso remarked to the reporter, highlighting the exceptional skill of the reigning four-time world champion.

Verstappen's stunning lap was particularly remarkable given the performance of his new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, who qualified 15th, underscoring the stark contrast in form between the two Red Bull drivers.

Alonso did not hold back in his praise, acknowledging Verstappen's superior talent.

"He's an outstanding driver. He's proving it every weekend," Alonso said in the media pen after his ViaPlay interview. "Hats off for him. I think the lap he did today is only down to him. I think the car is clearly not at the level to fight for pole or even the top five. But he manages to do those magical laps and magical weekends. At the moment, he's the best, he's the reference for all of us, and we need to keep improving to reach that level."

Alonso, a two-time world champion from 2005 and 2006, is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers of the modern era. His admiration for Verstappen’s prowess further cements the Dutchman's reputation as an extraordinary talent in Formula 1.

Verstappen has consistently proven his mettle, dominating the 2024 championship with a strong early performance and maintaining a solid title lead even as Red Bull's car became the third quickest behind McLaren and Ferrari later in the season.

This year, however, Verstappen has frequently voiced his frustrations with Red Bull's RB21, describing it as difficult to drive.

Despite these challenges, Verstappen's ability to extract the maximum performance from his car continues to set him apart, as demonstrated by his remarkable pole position lap at Suzuka.