Max Verstappen Slams "Horrendous" RB22 as Red Bull Struggles Continue at Japanese Grand Prix

Posted : 27 March 2026

Max Verstappen has expressed deep concern over the performance of his Red Bull RB22 following a difficult opening day at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix. The four-time world champion endured a frustrating Friday at Suzuka, finishing seventh in the morning session before slumping to tenth in the afternoon. Verstappen’s struggles highlight a worrying trend for the Milton Keynes-based team as they grapple with the sport's new technical regulations.

The Dutchman was vocal about the car's "bipolar" nature, noting that attempts to fix one issue often triggered another. After trailing Free Practice 2 leader Oscar Piastri by over 1.3 seconds, Verstappen admitted that the car currently lacks both balance and grip. He described the situation as "not a good day" and suggested that the team is "bleeding lap time" in the high-speed sections of the iconic circuit.

Red Bull's transition to their own Ford-backed power units has been met with immediate reliability hurdles. Verstappen was forced to retire from the previous round in China due to an ERS cooling issue, while teammate Isack Hadjar suffered an engine failure during the season opener in Australia. These mechanical setbacks have left Verstappen eighth in the drivers' standings with just 8 points, a staggering 43 points behind leader George Russell.

Adding to the technical woes, paddock reports suggest the RB22 is significantly overweight compared to its rivals. Leaked data indicates the car may be carrying over 60 pounds of excess bulk, putting Verstappen at a massive disadvantage before even reaching the corners. Technical Director Pierre Wache confirmed the team is facing weight challenges and has prioritized an "emergency weight-loss program" to recover lost performance.

The atmosphere within the team remains tense as Verstappen recently slammed the new regulations as a "joke." During media sessions in Japan, his frustration was evident as he refused to speak until a specific journalist was removed from the room. Despite bringing a suite of upgrades to Suzuka, including revised sidepods and floor designs, the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari remains substantial.

Looking ahead to qualifying, Verstappen has downplayed any hopes of a quick turnaround, stating he does not "expect miracles overnight." Red Bull currently sits fifth in the constructors' standings, trailing both McLaren and the surprisingly competitive Haas team. With two races in the Middle East already canceled this season, the team faces a race against time to fix their "significant shortcomings" before the title race slips away completely.

Max Verstappen Slams "Horrendous" RB22 as Red Bull Struggles Continue at Japanese Grand Prix

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