Max Verstappen reveals the F1 qualifying lap he thinks he will never be able to replicate

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Max Verstappen has put in some impressive laps in his Formula 1 career, having established himself as one of the best qualifiers on the grid.

His unexpected pole at this year’s Miami and Japanese Grands Prix was a testament to what the Dutchman can do when the car is in the right setup window.

Fellow F1 drivers were left ‘astounded’ by Verstappen’s pole lap in Japan, with Pierre Gasly even halting his session with the media so he could watch the lap.

When asked if there was ever a lap that he finished and thought he couldn’t replicate, Verstappen named one track when speaking to former Top Gear host Chris Harris for Ford Performance.

Max Verstappen thinks he will never replicate 2024 Jeddah qualifying lap

One of Verstappen’s most spectacular laps happened at the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP, when he put in two spectacular sectors before crashing at the final corner on his way to a potential pole.

The Dutchman was keen to settle a score at the track, and in 2024, he put together what he felt was one of his best laps at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Verstappen: “I’m quite a perfectionist, it’s never good enough, and if I can come out of the car and say to myself ‘That was really good’ – it’s never good enough – then…”

Harris: “Have you ever said: ‘That was really good?'”

Verstappen: “I’ve had a few laps. Last year in Jeddah, my first run in Q3 and I came back into the box and was like ‘S—- I don’t know if I can do this again’ and I actually didn’t go faster in the second run.”

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Max Verstappen broke one Michael Schumacher record with F1 poles

Verstappen has many records to his name in F1, particularly when he went on his dominant run through the 2023 season with Red Bull.

The Dutchman broke one Michael Schumacher record at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, where he won the race from 13th on the grid after starting from pole.

It was the most victories converted from pole, with 12 wins in a row starting from first place. The streak first started at the 2022 Dutch GP and would end in Japan.

It goes to show just how impressive Verstappen’s efforts in qualifying can be, having currently achieved 44 poles as of the 2025 season.