US EditionVerstappen 'Beyond Frustrated' After Japan Q2 Exit
Verstappen's Q2 exit at Suzuka ended his four-pole streak as rookie Arvid Lindblad's late move and car control issues slowed the four-time champion's lap.
- On Saturday at the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was eliminated in Q2 at Suzuka, qualifying 11th for Sunday's race after Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad pushed him into the elimination zone.
- The four-time world champion described himself as "beyond frustrated" by a miserable start to 2026, which included finishing sixth in Melbourne and an engine failure in China.
- Labeling new F1 cars "anti-racing," Verstappen likened their energy harvesting systems to collecting mushrooms in Mario Kart and previously described his Red Bull driving as "survival mode."
- Mercedes boss Toto Wolff dismissed speculation regarding a potential move, stating there are "no discussions" to offer the Dutchman an exit from his Red Bull malaise.
- When pressed to elaborate further on his future, Verstappen cryptically said only "Life," though he remains under contract with the team until 2028.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Max Verstappen experienced a miserable qualifying in Japan. Eleventh place – defeated by Isack Hadjar and Formula 1 newcomer Arvid Lindblad in the sister team.
Max Verstappen will start at the Japan Grand Prix in Formula 1 on Sunday only from P11. The four-time world champion was thus frustrated at qualifying in Suzuka.
The Dutch Max Verstappen classified his car as “impossible to pilot” after seeing the end of this Saturday (28), his sequence of four consecutive Poles in the Great Prize of Japan. The Red Bull Racing pilot will only extend to the 11th position of the grid. At 28 years, Verstappen had converted all previous Poles in Suzuka into victories, but was no longer considered to be in favour of this time, in the field of Mercedes under the new regulation…
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