Max Verstappen Slams ‘Horror Show’ Red Bull RB22 Following Early ERS Failure in Shanghai

Max Verstappen labels the Red Bull RB22 a "horror show" after a cooling failure and lack of pace end his Chinese GP early. Read the full technical breakdown.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 9:16 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

A Disastrous Outing for the Milton Keynes Squad

The Chinese Grand Prix proved to be a sobering reality check for Red Bull Racing, as the team struggled to maintain any semblance of competitive pace throughout the weekend. Max Verstappen’s race ended prematurely due to a suspected Energy Recovery System (ERS) cooling failure, but the technical retirement only masked a deeper deficiency in raw performance. Before his exit, Verstappen found himself battling in the lower midfield against Haas and Alpine, a stark contrast to the dominance the team enjoyed in previous regulatory eras.

Verstappen Highlights Chronic Technical Flaws

In a blunt assessment of the RB22’s current state, Verstappen noted that the car suffered from a disastrous combination of poor balance and extreme tire graining. He explained that the vehicle felt nearly undriveable during both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, mirroring the struggles seen earlier in the weekend. According to Verstappen, the engine failed to deliver power the moment the clutch was released, a recurring issue that has neutralized his ability to defend positions or make progress during the opening laps.

The Reality of the 2026 Pecking Order

While external observers previously labeled Red Bull as a benchmark during pre-season testing, Verstappen was quick to dismiss those claims as media fabrications. He laughed off the notion that Red Bull was ever close to the front-running Mercedes, stating that he has known the true performance gap since the first day of running. The Dutch driver emphasized that the gap in Shanghai was particularly severe, as the team could not find a setup that allowed for aggressive driving or consistent lap times on any tire compound.