Formula 1 Japanese GP
Max Verstappen: “I'm not even frustrated anymore, I'm beyond that”
Verstappen didn’t make it to Q3 at Suzuka, and was disenchanted with his Red Bull machinery
Ben Vinel Filip Cleeren
Edited: Mar 28, 2026, 6:15 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Max Verstappen is at a loss with his Red Bull Formula 1 car after his Japanese Grand Prix qualifying ended as early as Q2.
The four-time world champion was ninth-fastest in the opening segment of qualifying and set the 10th-quickest lap early in Q2, 0.024s behind team-mate Isack Hadjar and 0.049s ahead of Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg.
Verstappen did improve by a tenth on his final run, but a late effort by Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad earned the rookie a six-tenth gain and 10th position, which displaced the Dutchman into the drop zone.
“I think there is something wrong with the car mate, it’s completely undriveable suddenly in this qualifying”, Verstappen told race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase on the radio. “Jumping on high speed in the rear suddenly.”
Read Also:
Formula 1F1 Japanese GP: Kimi Antonelli on pole, Max Verstappen out in Q2
Formula 1F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Japanese GP
The Red Bull driver was none the wiser as he headed to the media pen after the session, explaining the team had struggled to quench the RB22’s flaws.
“We made changes all weekend, but at the same time we also have some problems in the car that we're trying to fix, and I guess it was worse again in qualifying compared to FP3,” Verstappen commented, despite a set-up tweak he described as “not that big”.
“So, as soon as you really tried to push, for me it was just all over the place. Really not good, and also really doesn't give you confidence to attack any corner. For me, I was just stuck, I couldn't push more.”
Verstappen did clarify that those issues weren’t related to the power unit, which ‘isn’t their biggest problem’ – “from the car side I think we are really struggling at the moment,” he added.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Hadjar went on to be outqualified by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly by a whopping three tenths in Q3, compounding yet another difficult session for Red Bull, after its French driver qualified third at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
“We can see that Melbourne was better, and then somehow some things happened with the car while not even having touched the car, so that is always a big problem,” Verstappen pointed out matter-of-factly.
Asked how frustrating it was to drive a tricky car on a Suzuka track he loves, with new F1 machinery he dislikes, Verstappen replied: “I mean, I'm not even frustrated anymore, you know, I'm beyond that, so that's a bit – I don't know the right word in English for it. Yeah, I don't know what to make of it, to be honest.
“I don't get upset about it, I don't get disappointed or frustrated by it anymore with what's going on, so…”
As to whether he can see some light at the end of the tunnel, Verstappen pondered: “I mean, for sure we'll fix a few things, hopefully in the coming weeks, months.”
In the meantime, he’ll start tomorrow’s Japanese GP from the 11th spot on the grid.
Photos from Japanese GP - Saturday
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Japanese GP - Saturday, in photos
Formula 1
52
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Scott Speed: I told my F1 boss to “f-off” — and it ended my career
Next article Here’s the starting grid for F1’s 2026 Japanese Grand Prix
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Vinel
Penalty drops Oscar Piastri out of F1 Mexico GP points
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
10 h
Penalty drops Oscar Piastri out of F1 Mexico GP points
Fred Vasseur reacts to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc clash: “It’s a matter of respect”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
11 h
Fred Vasseur reacts to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc clash: “It’s a matter of respect”
More from
Max Verstappen
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
More from
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat
When Red Bull expects to start using its long-awaited new F1 wind tunnel
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
When Red Bull expects to start using its long-awaited new F1 wind tunnel
Latest news
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
20 min
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett blast Carson Hocevar: "That's not racing"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
51 min
Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett blast Carson Hocevar: "That's not racing"
Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe