Anthony Davidson was pleasantly surprised by the performance of one driver in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen, looking to bounce back from a rare mechanical DNF in Australia last time out, took pole position at Suzuka.
But Davidson, speaking live on Sky Sports F1, also applauded one of the Dutchman’s competitors.
Fellow Red Bull driver Sergio Perez secured his first front-row start of the season after lapping within a tenth of Verstappen.
Lando Norris qualified third for McLaren, while Melbourne winner Carlos Sainz was fourth.
Fernando Alonso impressed in fifth for Aston Martin after teammate Lance Stroll suffered a Q1 exit, and Oscar Piastri was sixth.
Lewis Hamilton took seventh for Mercedes, out-qualifying George Russell (ninth) for the first time this season.
Charles Leclerc, who started second in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, had to settle for eighth after his solitary Q3 run.
Lando Norris impresses Anthony Davidson at Japanese Grand Prix
Norris briefly threatened to deny Red Bull a one-two in the final segment of qualifying.
His first lap, a 1:28.489, was good enough to slot into second behind Verstappen and ahead of Perez.
The Briton was unable to improve on his second run, and Perez lowered his effort to a 1:28.263 to nudge himself ahead.
However, Davidson still commended Norris on the pace he showed in his first attempt, simply saying: “Wow.”
He then added: “A brilliant lap from Lando Norris.”
Norris lays down a marker against Oscar Piastri
While Norris has out-performed teammate Piastri at two of the first three races, scoring McLaren’s first podium of the season in Australia, he still trails the Australian by a point in the standings.
The difference stems from the second race in Saudi Arabia, when the Australian finished fourth and Norris’ unsuccessful strategy gamble saw him come home eighth.
Norris comfortably beat the rookie in their first season together, but Piastri is hopeful of challenging his status as the team’s top dog this year.
The Briton has nonetheless made an authoritative start, particularly in qualifying, where he now leads the head-to-head 3-1.
Journalist Peter Windsor has argued that Piastri has the more ‘potential’ of the two drivers.
But Damon Hill believes that Norris continues to have the edge for the time being.
Norris scored a podium at this event last year, finishing second behind Verstappen, and will hope to repeat that feat at the very least in Sunday’s race.
After the Australian GP, he holds the record for the most podiums without a victory in F1 history (14).
He said before this race that he was ‘struggling’ with his McLaren car when pushing flat out, but he seems to have taken a step in the right direction in that regard.
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