Max Verstappen demands fixes for “not sustainable” Red Bull F1 car problems

Max Verstappen has urged Red Bull to get on top of the balance issues currently afflicting its 2026 Formula 1 car, branding them “not sustainable”.

Four-time world champion Verstappen called his Red Bull “undriveable” as he qualified 11th at Suzuka and stated he was “beyond frustrated” after suffering a shock Q2 elimination.

Things didn’t get much better in Sunday’s grand prix for Verstappen, who made little progress and could only finish a frustrated eighth, having become stuck behind Pierre Gasly’s Alpine.

“I don’t think it was very good. Yesterday was a disaster, today in the race I just maximised my race,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1 after the race.

“The feeling in the car is exactly the same as qualifying, I’m just trying to hang onto it basically, in the race.”

Asked what he will do in the upcoming month-long F1 break following the cancellation of the Middle East double-header due to the Iran war, the Dutchman replied: “I will do some more racing, some stuff that makes me smile.

“At the same time speak to the team as well to try and find some more pace and more stable balance because this is not sustainable for us as well for a team.

“We really need to work hard to understand our problems and of course bring improvements.”

Verstappen once again reiterated his current dissatisfaction stems from F1’s new engine rules, rather than Red Bull’s current lack of competitiveness.

“You can have a bad balance but of course that doesn’t take away from how we have to race and in general the whole system,” he explained. 

“I commented on that already a few times. That is the limitation and I think a lot of drivers are speaking out on it. That is of course the biggest one for me.

“Of course I would like to win but I can also accept if I’m driving P7. It’s just the way I’m driving to P7 with the systems and everything, is not a lot of fun.”

After qualifying in Japan, Verstappen said he has “a lot of stuff to personally figure out”.

"You know how I think about a lot of stuff, right?" Verstappen said. "I don't need to mention it again. So a lot of stuff for me to personally figure out.”

When asked to clarify what he meant, he replied: "Life. Life here."