Red Bull baffled by 'undriveable' car as struggles continue in Japan

Red Bull Racing is facing a crisis of confidence with its 2026 car, the RB22, as drivers Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen expressed bewilderment over its unpredictable and slow performance at the Japanese Grand Prix. The team, which had hoped for a fresh start under new regulations, has instead regressed into the midfield, struggling to match even Alpine and Audi in qualifying at Suzuka.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's dramatic fall from grace at the start of a new regulatory era raises serious questions about its technical direction. After a promising season opener in Melbourne, consecutive poor showings in China and now Japan suggest fundamental issues with the car's concept. For a team with championship aspirations and a star driver in Max Verstappen, failing to produce a competitive base package threatens their entire season and puts immense pressure on the engineering team to find rapid solutions.

The details:

• Qualifying Disaster: The scale of the problem was laid bare in qualifying. New signing Isack Hadjar qualified a distant eighth, 1.2 seconds off pole, while four-time champion Max Verstappen suffered a shock Q2 elimination in 11th place.
• Driver Frustration: Verstappen labeled the car "completely undriveable," stating "there is something wrong." Hadjar echoed the confusion, admitting, "What we are seeing this weekend makes no sense."
• A Repeat of 2025: The situation mirrors the start of 2025, where the RB21 was also highly unpredictable. It required mid-season upgrades to become competitive, a path the team desperately wanted to avoid this year.
• Core Performance Issue: Hadjar pinpointed the lack of load and extreme balance shifts as the main problem, criticizing the car for being "hard to drive and slow." He described a session where the car's behavior flipped entirely from final practice to qualifying, making setup and driver confidence nearly impossible.
• Failed Objective: One key goal for the 2026 car was to create a more driver-friendly machine that could suit both drivers, moving away from a car tuned primarily for Verstappen's style. Early evidence suggests this objective has not been met.

What's next:

Red Bull faces a critical investigation to understand the RB22's fundamental flaws. The team's immediate task is to gather data from the Japanese Grand Prix race to diagnose the inconsistent balance and lack of performance. With the European season approaching, the pressure will mount to develop meaningful upgrades that can alter the car's character. If solutions are not found quickly, Red Bull risks being stuck in a protracted midfield battle, a scenario unthinkable for a team of its resources and recent success.