Verstappen hunt for fifth title: 'Think twice before ruling him out'

Former Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos believes Max Verstappen's performance at the Japanese Grand Prix proves rivals "better think twice" about writing off his championship hopes.

Red Bull has had an apparently rocky start to the season, with the car said to be underperforming compared to rivals McLaren and, in China, Mercedes.

Verstappen has already had a second teammate of the campaign after the team swapped Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda following the Kiwi's struggles behind the wheel of the RB21, with more turmoil reported from inside the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Yet at Suzuka, Verstappen demonstrated why he was a four-time champion with a sublime qualifying lap to take pole position, dictating the race from the front to secure the first non-McLaren grand prix win of the season.

Verstappen is back

Verstappen's victory leaves him just a point behind Lando Norris and on whether he could add a fifth title to his name, Doornbos told the Ziggo Sport Race Cafe: "Well, after last weekend, he can.

"Wow, he really showed how it's done. If anyone thought we could write him off, they better think twice.

"He's back, I mean, it's amazing what he has shown. Of course, it was a particularly tough weekend, almost comparable to Monaco. Saturday was everything."

With a lack of action during the race in both Japan and China, Doornbos pointed towards the importance of qualifying for the remainder of the season.

"We have to take that into account, that this year will be a sort of qualifying championship," he explained.

"Who drives the magical lap on Saturday? It seems very difficult to overtake on Sunday, at least here in Suzuka. So that was good news for Max."