EXCLUSIVE: Japanese GT500 legend Atsushi Miyake left stunned as Max Verstappen smashes lap record at Fuji in torrential rain – “I thought they were exaggerating… until I saw it” – and the humble gesture Verstappen made moments after the historic run has the entire motorsport world in awe

It was supposed to be a simple demonstration run. Instead, it became another unforgettable chapter in the Max Verstappen legend.

At Japan’s legendary Fuji Speedway, the four-time Formula 1 world champion climbed into a Super GT500 car he had barely driven before and, in conditions so wet that most professional drivers would have refused to push, produced a lap time that shattered the existing record by a staggering margin.

Veteran Japanese GT500 driver Atsushi Miyake, whose benchmark time had stood for years, admitted he was left utterly speechless by what he witnessed.

“I thought they were exaggerating… until I saw what Max Verstappen did on the wet track,” Miyake said, still shaking his head in disbelief hours later. “That was not normal. That was something else entirely.”

But what happened immediately after Verstappen climbed out of the car has arguably become the most talked-about moment of the entire test — a humble, respectful gesture that silenced the entire Super GT garage and has since gone viral around the world.

THE DAY FUJI SPEEDWAY WITNESSED THE IMPOSSIBLE

The invitation for Verstappen to test a GT500 car came from one of Japan’s leading manufacturers as part of a special collaboration event. The weather was appalling — a relentless downpour that turned the 4.563km circuit into a skating rink, with standing water in several high-speed corners.

Engineers and drivers present warned Verstappen that attempting a serious lap time would be extremely risky, especially in a car he had only sat in for a handful of installation laps earlier that morning.

Atsushi Miyake, one of Japan’s most respected GT500 competitors, had set the previous benchmark time in dry conditions years earlier. In the wet, it was considered untouchable.

Yet Verstappen, wearing a simple helmet and race suit, calmly pulled on his gloves and told the team he was ready.

On his second flying lap, the Dutchman delivered a performance that defied logic. He destroyed Miyake’s record by nearly eight-tenths of a second — an enormous gap in such treacherous conditions.

Telemetry data later showed Verstappen was carrying speeds through corners that the Japanese engineers insisted should have caused the car to aquaplane off the track. His braking points were later than anyone had dared, and his throttle application out of slow corners was described by one engineer as “borderline genius.”

MIYAKE’S SPEECHLESS REACTION

Miyake, watching from the pit wall, could barely speak when the lap time flashed up on the screen.

“I have driven these cars for many years,” the experienced Japanese driver said afterwards. “I know what is possible and what is not. What Max did today was not possible. I thought the team was exaggerating when they told me how fast he could be. Now I understand why they were so excited.”

Miyake later approached Verstappen personally to congratulate him, with the two drivers sharing a warm handshake and a brief conversation that was captured on video and has since been shared thousands of times online.

THE GESTURE THAT SILENCED THE GARAGE

What happened next, however, may be remembered even longer than the record lap itself.

As soon as Verstappen brought the car into the pits, he did not celebrate or seek out the cameras. Instead, he immediately sought out the entire engineering crew and test team who had prepared the car.

According to multiple witnesses in the garage, Verstappen spent nearly 20 minutes thanking every single person involved — from the senior engineers to the young mechanics who had worked through the night.

He reportedly bowed deeply to the Japanese team in a show of respect, a gesture that carried significant cultural weight and left many of the crew visibly moved.

One team member told Mail Sport: “Max didn’t say much about his lap. He just kept thanking us. He said the car felt incredible and that the credit belonged to them, not him. In that moment, the whole garage went quiet. It was a level of humility you rarely see from someone of his status.”

The gesture quickly spread through social media and Japanese motorsport circles, earning Verstappen huge admiration in a country that values respect and teamwork.

WHY THIS LAP WAS SO SPECIAL

Verstappen had virtually no experience in the specific GT500 car. The Super GT machines are notoriously difficult to drive in the wet, with high power, heavy weight, and very different aerodynamics compared to an F1 car.

To set a new record in such conditions — on only his second proper lap — has been described by experts as “borderline supernatural.”

Data analysts who reviewed the telemetry noted that Verstappen consistently found grip where others saw only water, braking later and carrying more corner speed than the simulation models suggested was physically possible.

Japanese media have already labelled the lap “a moment that will be remembered for generations” in the country’s rich motorsport history.

THE GLOBAL REACTION

The footage and data from the test have gone viral worldwide. Fellow F1 drivers have been quick to react, with Lando Norris posting “Absolute madness” alongside the onboard clip, while Charles Leclerc simply wrote “Respect” with a fire emoji.

Even drivers from other series have been impressed. Several Super GT regulars have admitted they would not have attempted the lap in those conditions.

For Verstappen, the demonstration served as both a fun diversion during the F1 summer break and another reminder of his extraordinary adaptability and wet-weather prowess — skills that have defined some of his greatest victories, including his masterclass in Brazil 2023.

MAX VERSTAPPEN: BEYOND THE RECORD

While the lap time itself was remarkable, it is Verstappen’s humble attitude afterwards that has resonated most strongly with fans and professionals alike.

In an era where many top athletes are accused of arrogance, the 28-year-old’s willingness to credit the team and show genuine respect to his Japanese hosts has only enhanced his reputation.

As one veteran Japanese journalist put it: “Max didn’t just break the record. He won the respect of everyone in the garage. That is rarer than any lap time.”

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR VERSTAPPEN’S LEGACY

At a time when Verstappen’s 2026 F1 season with Red Bull has been challenging due to the difficult new regulations, this demonstration at Fuji has served as a timely reminder of his extraordinary talent.

It has also reignited debates about just how much of his success is due to the car versus his own ability — a discussion that continues to divide opinion but gains new life with every extraordinary performance like this.

For the Verstappen family, it was another proud moment. Jos Verstappen, watching from the garage, was reportedly beaming with pride as his son once again pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible.

A MOMENT THAT TRANSCENDS FORMULA 1

While Max Verstappen will return to his Red Bull duties for the remainder of the 2026 season, his lap at Fuji has already transcended the world of Formula 1.

It has reminded fans why they fell in love with the sport in the first place: the thrill of seeing a driver push a machine to limits that even the engineers believed were unreachable.

As Atsushi Miyake so perfectly summarised: “I thought they were exaggerating… until I saw it with my own eyes.”

In the rain at Fuji Speedway, Max Verstappen didn’t just set a new record. He created another unforgettable moment in a career already filled with them.

And once again, the question echoes around the paddock and beyond: just how good is this man?