Four-Time Champion Max Verstappen Slumps to Eleventh After Undrivable Red Bull Fails at Suzuka

Max Verstappen hits a new low in 2026 after a shock Q2 exit at the Japanese GP. Read how car balance issues and failed upgrades left the champion in P11.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 6:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

A Tactical Nightmare for the Defending Champion

The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session delivered a staggering blow to Red Bull Racing as Max Verstappen failed to reach the final shootout for the first time this season. Clocking a 1:30.262, the four-time world champion found himself stranded in eleventh place, a result that underscores a widening performance gap within the Milton Keynes stable. According to Verstappen, the vehicle platform became increasingly unstable as the session progressed, leaving him unable to navigate the high-speed sectors of the Suzuka Circuit with any degree of confidence or consistency.

Internal Rivalry Shifts as Hadjar Gains Ground

The competitive landscape within Red Bull has taken an unexpected turn as Isack Hadjar secured a superior grid position for the second time in three race weekends. Hadjar managed to eclipse his veteran teammate by nearly two-tenths of a second, repeating his qualifying triumph from the season opener in Australia. This shift in internal dynamics suggests that the junior driver has found a more effective rhythm with the current machinery, while Verstappen remains at odds with the fundamental handling characteristics of the car under high-load conditions.

Mechanical Instability Plagues the RB22 Platform

During post-session briefings, Verstappen utilized the term undrivable to characterize a car that he claims is suffering from contradictory balance flaws. The driver reported a frustrating combination of mid-corner understeer paired with unpredictable oversteer upon entry, a technical paradox that prevents aggressive commitment to the racing line. According to Verstappen, the car was sliding excessively while simultaneously refusing to rotate, creating a complicated balance that proved impossible to manage throughout the critical stages of the second qualifying segment.