Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen expresses significant frustration following Q2 elimination, continuing challenging beginning.
Max Verstappen expressed that he feels “beyond frustrated” with his disappointing start to 2026 after being eliminated in Q2 during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix by Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad.
Verstappen found himself in the elimination zone at the conclusion of the session due to rookie Lindblad, who competes for Red Bull’s secondary team, Racing Bulls.
Onboard footage revealed Verstappen having difficulty managing the car at various sections of the Suzuka circuit, particularly through the Esses and again at the Spoon hairpin, which affects a driver’s speed on the lengthy approach to the 130R corner.
“I think there’s something wrong with the car, mate,” Verstappen remarked to Red Bull as he returned to the pits. “It’s completely undriveable.”
He will begin Sunday’s race from the 11th position. The Q2 exit ended a streak of four consecutive pole positions at Suzukaβhis notable 2025 lap, which surpassed the dominant McLaren drivers, is regarded as one of the finest of his distinguished F1 career.
Verstappen struggled to articulate his feelings.
“I’m not even frustrated anymore,” he stated on Saturday afternoon. “I’m beyond that, so that’s a bit… I don’t know the right word in English for it. I don’t know what to make of it, to be honest.”
When asked if there was a term for it in Dutch, he responded: “Yeah, I don’t even know … There’s probably no word. There’s no word.”
“It’s just… I cannot… I don’t get upset about it. I don’t get disappointed or frustrated by it anymore with what’s going on, so.”
– Max Verstappen vs. F1’s new rules: Every complaint this season — and our verdict
The four-time world champion has faced challenges this season.
Two weeks ago in China, Verstappen mentioned that every lap in his Red Bull felt like “survival mode.”
The Dutch driver has also grown increasingly exasperated with the new generation of F1 carsβhe has described them as “anti-racing” and compared the new dependence on energy harvesting and battery boosting to gathering mushrooms in the popular racing video game Mario Kart.
“For sure we’ll fix a few things hopefully in the coming weeks, months,” he added. “The rest you know how I think about a lot of stuff.”
“I don’t need to mention it again. So yeah, a lot of stuff also for me personally to figure out.”
Source: espn.com
