Struggling in Japan, Max Verstappen is sounding the alarm: the RB22 is racking up problems and Red Bull has no quick fix.
Read more Lewis Hamilton sounds the alarm: this phenomenon that ruins the fun in F1
Max Verstappen experienced another complicated day behind the wheel of his RB22 at the Suzuka circuit. Already trailing during the first free practice session, the four-time world champion failed to reverse the trend during the second session, finishing only tenth.
A worrying result for Red Bull, especially since the gap to the leaders remains substantial. The Dutchman is significantly behind the McLarens and Mercedes, confirming the difficulties encountered by the team since the start of the 2026 season.
Speaking to the media, Verstappen did not try to hide his frustration: “Yes, it wasn’t very good, to be honest. We lack balance, grip… two opposite problems between the two sessions, and neither was satisfactory.”
Ineffective setups and persistent misunderstanding
One of the most concerning elements for Verstappen lies in the team’s inability to find a clear direction in terms of setup. Every adjustment seems to generate a new problem, without ever leading to a viable solution.
The Dutch driver explained: “We try to fix one point, and it creates another. We simply can’t find a good balance. This instability makes the car particularly difficult to exploit, whether on a fast lap or on longer stints.”
Beyond simple setups, it is the overall understanding of the car that is in question. Red Bull currently seems to be flying blind, failing to precisely identify the source of its difficulties, which considerably complicates any attempt at rapid improvement.
Read more Verstappen sparks controversy at Suzuka: the expelled journalist breaks his silence
No miracle expected before qualifying
Despite Red Bull’s reputation for turning around tricky situations between Friday and Saturday, Verstappen is much more pessimistic this time. The 28-year-old driver does not believe in a spectacular turnaround before qualifying.
“Yes, but at the same time, it’s very difficult to solve at the moment, so I don’t expect miracles overnight,” he admitted lucidly. A strong message sent to his team, but also an alarm signal for the entire Red Bull camp.
The goal is now clear: understand before acting. As Verstappen summarized: “We just need to better understand our problems and where they come from.”
An essential step if the Austrian team hopes to return to the fight against Mercedes and McLaren.
Red Bull already under pressure
After an already complicated weekend in China, this new poor performance in Japan confirms that Red Bull is going through a difficult period. The team, used to dominating, finds itself now having to react quickly to prevent its rivals from widening the gap in the championship.
Without an immediate solution, pressure is mounting on the team and its engineers. And even though the season is still long, time is already running out for Verstappen and Red Bull, who know that in Formula 1, every missed weekend can be very costly in the title race.
Read more Mercedes hits hard in FP3 at Suzuka: Antonelli leads Russell before qualifying