Max Verstappen Admits Severe Balance Issues as Red Bull Slumps to Tenth During Japanese Grand Prix Practice

Max Verstappen finished P10 in Japan as Red Bull's 2026 struggles continue. Discover why the champion expects "no miracles" for the Japanese Grand Prix.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 6:15 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

Technical Disarray for Red Bull at the Suzuka Circuit

The dominant force of previous seasons appears to have hit a significant technical wall as the 2026 Formula 1 season enters its third round in Japan. Max Verstappen offered a blunt assessment of his team’s current standing after a lackluster performance in Friday’s practice sessions, where he finished in a lowly tenth position. The gap to the front of the field was stark, with the Red Bull driver trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by more than 1.3 seconds. According to Verstappen, the RB22 is currently suffering from a fundamental lack of harmony, describing the car's behavior as "not very good" and lacking both consistent grip and balance across different track conditions.

A Challenging Transition to New Battery Powered Regulations

The struggles in Suzuka are indicative of a broader trend for Red Bull following the major regulatory shift to hybrid, battery-heavy power units. Verstappen has yet to reach the podium in this new era, a startling statistic for a driver who previously dominated the sport. During the two practice sessions on Friday, the Dutch champion found himself fighting the car rather than the clock, finishing eight-tenths down in the first session before the deficit expanded in the afternoon. This downward trajectory suggests that the team is struggling to calibrate the complex energy recovery systems with the aerodynamic platform of the new chassis.

Compounding Frustrations and Stewards Inquiries

Beyond the inherent lack of pace, Verstappen’s day was further complicated by high-tension encounters with rival drivers on the narrow Japanese track. The stewards investigated two separate incidents involving the Red Bull driver, the first occurring in the opening session when Lewis Hamilton appeared to impede his flying lap. A second investigation focused on Franco Colapinto, who received a warning for erratic driving that disrupted Verstappen’s rhythm in the final session. These distractions, combined with several uncharacteristic lock-ups and slides from Verstappen himself, painted a picture of a team and driver operating under significant operational duress.