Max Verstappen’s sideswipe at McLaren rivals, as jungle drums beating for Jack Doohan

World champion Max Verstappen delivered a not-so-subtle sledge at McLaren’s drivers as the feud between the warring F1 powerhouses cranked up a notch this weekend.

World champion Max Verstappen delivered a sideswipe at his McLaren rivals after upstaging them to take his first win of the year at the Japanese Grand Prix, saying they “wouldn’t have even seen me” if he had been racing in their car.

After clinching an incredible pole, Verstappen delivered a timely reminder of his place in the title fight with his fourth consecutive win at Suzuka to move to within one point of McLaren’s Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings.

After predicted season favourites McLaren won the opening two races – Norris in Melbourne and Australian Oscar Piastri in Shanghai – Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the win showed the Dutch star was “right in the fight” for a fifth straight championship.

Verstappen defeated Norris and Piastri to take the win in Japan and couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at his closest rivals, who he believed still had the faster car.

“When I came here, I didn’t expect to win here at all – and after Friday, not at all,” Verstappen said to Viaplay after the race.

Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Japan Grand Prix. Picture: Getty

“Starting on pole was the most important thing this weekend. McLaren I think was faster, but they couldn’t get into the DRS to make a move.

“I’m very happy with what I’m doing, I don’t even want to think about it if I’d been in that other car (McLaren). Then you wouldn’t have seen me.”

Horner said Verstappen’s “inch-perfect” performance in Japan had been one of his best – and said he remained the driver benchmark in Formula 1.

“That was one of Max’s best weekends. Without any debate, he is the best driver in the world currently,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.

“The hard work was done (in qualifying) but he was inch perfect in the race.

“We worked hard to give him a car he was able to extract the most out of and he drove the wheels off it, he was stunning.”

Norris leads the championship standings on 62 points, one clear of Verstappen, with Piastri a further 12 points behind in third.

Oscar Piastri (L) and Max Verstappen. Picture: Getty

CHAMPIONSHIP COMPROMISE

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner suggested McLaren’s equal driver status hurt the team’s efforts to challenge Verstappen in Japan.

The team orders debate reared its head again when Oscar Piastri suggested over the team radio late in the race that he should swap positions with Norris, believing he had the extra pace to chase down Verstappen.

But the suggestion was not acted upon by the team, as Piastri went on to take third behind his teammate and Verstappen.

Horner believed McLaren having two drivers to look after in the title hunt presented papaya compromises which impacted their ability to fight Verstappen.

“I guess the problem they have is they have two drivers that are fighting for the drivers’ championship,” Horner told media in Japan as per motorsport.com.

McLaren celebrate second-placed Lando Norris and third-placed Oscar Piastri. Picture: Getty

“The difficulty they have is that they’ve made a bet where they’re going to let them race.

“So that’s the compromise that inevitably comes with that.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella had not been not confident that Piastri had the pace advantage to warrant the switch.

“I don’t think it is so clear that Oscar was faster,” Stella said.

“Lando was trying to get Max’s slipstream even closer, but anytime you went below a second there was a significant loss of grip.

“At this track you need seven, eight tenths of performance advantage in order to be able to overtake.”

DOOHAN DRUMS

The jungle drums continue to beat over the future of Australian rookie Jack Doohan with one former F1 driver suggesting he might not be on the grid at the next race in Bahrain.

Doohan endured another tough weekend in Japan, suffering a heavy high-speed crash in second practice.

The team later revealed the cause of the crash had been a “misjudgment” from the driver not closing the DRS into turn one.

Doohan finished the grand prix in 15th position, making up four places in the race.

The drums are beating for Australia’s Jack Doohan after another rough weekend. Picture: Getty

But the Alpine rookie’s future remains uncertain with speculation he will be replaced by reserve driver Franco Colapinto not going away.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher questioned whether Doohan would be on the grid at the next race.

“It’s being driven by his own team, but also by his driving,” Schumacher told Sky Germany.

“He (Doohan) makes a lot of mistakes and isn’t fast enough. We saw Ryo Hirakawa get in that car in the first practice session and was right on par with Pierre Gasly. Then Doohan got in and made that huge mistake.

“At the moment, he’s overwhelmed by the situation. I’m curious to see what happens, but he’s not certain to be at the next race.”

Originally published as Max Verstappen’s sideswipe at McLaren rivals, as jungle drums beating for Jack Doohan