Max Verstappen calls Red Bull 'undrivable' after shock Q2 exit in Japan

Max Verstappen suffered a shocking Q2 elimination at the Japanese Grand Prix, labeling his upgraded Red Bull car "undrivable" as he was outqualified by teammate Isack Hadjar for the second time in three races. The four-time champion struggled with a severe and unpredictable balance, finishing 11th and over 1.2 seconds off the pace, raising major concerns about Red Bull's latest development package.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's public criticism and qualifying struggles signal a deepening crisis for Red Bull. With the car's fundamental balance issues persisting and new upgrades failing to deliver, the team's ability to fight for wins—let alone championships—is in serious doubt. This performance, especially being beaten by a teammate, undermines both driver confidence and the team's technical direction during a critical phase of the season.

The details:

• Shocking Elimination: Verstappen was knocked out in Q2 at Suzuka, setting a time only good enough for 11th place, which was 1.214 seconds behind session leader Kimi Antonelli.
• Teammate Defeat: More critically, his time was nearly two-tenths slower than teammate Isack Hadjar, marking the second time in three events the French driver has outqualified the reigning world champion.
• Car Balance Issues: Verstappen described the RB22 as unpredictable and complicated, suffering from a lack of mid-corner rotation combined with excessive oversteer on entry and understeer overall.
• Upgrade Failure: Red Bull introduced a significant upgrade package for Suzuka, including new sidepod inlets, floor, and engine cover. Verstappen explicitly stated the new aero package "seems like that's not working."
• Driver Feedback: Over team radio and in post-session interviews, Verstappen expressed clear frustration, moving from disappointment to highlighting known, unresolved problems with the car's behavior.

What's next:

The immediate focus for Red Bull will be a deep analysis of why the Suzuka upgrades failed to rectify the car's core handling flaws. With Verstappen openly questioning the car's drivability and the team's development path, pressure mounts on the technical team to find solutions quickly. This performance will intensify scrutiny on the team's competitive level and could influence long-term strategic decisions if the issues persist.