Max Verstappen voiced his displeasure regarding Red Bull’s “uncontrollable” Formula 1 vehicle, implying that “each circuit rotation felt like a struggle for existence” subsequent to securing the eighth starting position for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Following a catastrophic launch that caused him to plummet through the ranks rapidly, Verstappen ended Saturday morning’s sprint race in ninth place. He is set to begin the main race in eighth, as the Red Bull team appeared completely bewildered by their RB22 chassis.
The team based in Milton Keynes had previously been known for its remarkable ability to drastically alter car setups between practice sessions and qualifying during the previous year. However, even after attempting another complete overhaul of the car’s configuration, no extraordinary improvements materialized.
Throughout both the sprint event and the main Grand Prix qualifying session, Verstappen experienced the worst scenario imaginable for any racing driver: a vehicle that simultaneously exhibited excessive oversteer and insufficient understeer, failing to provide any clear indication of its impending movements.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Lintao Zhang / LAT Images via Getty Images
This performance positioned Verstappen nine-tenths of a second behind the pole position holder in ninth place, with his associate Isack Hadjar trailing by an additional tenth of a second.
“We made numerous adjustments to the vehicle, yet it yielded no discernible impact,” Verstappen clarified. “Our performance has been subpar throughout the entire weekend; the car is utterly impossible to control. I am unable to establish any precise benchmark. Each circuit rotation feels like a mere attempt to stay on track. The equilibrium is severely disrupted.”
In response to inquiries about the source of his difficulties, he stated: “There’s a minor aspect with the engine, though that is likely not the predominant factor. We are currently losing a significant amount of performance with the car in this specific location. Moreover, I am completely unable to apply pressure because the vehicle prevents me from doing so. Consequently, I do not genuinely feel command over the car. This is unequivocally not how things ought to be. Since the very first lap under these new regulations, I have most certainly not found this car enjoyable.”
Consequently, Verstappen holds minimal optimism for advancing through the standings, anticipating that he will conclude Sunday’s competition precisely “in his current position.”
Verstappen disclosed that his problem at the start mirrored Liam Lawson’s noticeably slow departure in Melbourne, although he dismissed any concerns regarding his battery’s charge.
“The battery was functioning correctly. However, I did not receive adequate power output from the engine. Essentially, I encountered a comparable issue to what Liam experienced in Australia. I am hopeful we can rectify it. Otherwise, I will find myself in the 20th position once more,” the individual, a four-time world champion, remarked.
Max Verstappen has not enjoyed the 2026 Red Bull F1 car for one second thus far
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Red Bull did not appear to be as lacking in competitiveness in Melbourne, a race where Hadjar secured the third qualifying spot and an incident kept Verstappen from starting on the second row.
Nonetheless, in the view of Verstappen’s recent colleague, the outcome from the previous week was attributable more to the subpar performance of Red Bull’s competitors rather than any inherent strength or weakness in Red Bull’s vehicle capabilities.
“No, there is no change,” he affirmed. “My assessment is that we were trailing by eight-tenths of a second in Melbourne on a circuit of smaller dimensions. In this location, the disparity is considerably greater, which merely highlights our vulnerabilities further. Thus, the time deficit per lap is more substantial, but our underlying performance remains consistent. I believe they [Ferrari and McLaren] genuinely faltered during the past weekend. That is my complete assessment.”
“Our capabilities as an overall unit were stretched to their limits. Consequently, we are currently experiencing difficulties, but we are certain to achieve advancements as the season progresses.”
