Verstappen Admits 'Big Problems' After Red Bull's Suzuka Practice Struggles

Max Verstappen conceded Red Bull has "big problems" after a difficult Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he finished a distant 10th in second practice, 1.4 seconds off the pace. The reigning champion struggled with an unpredictable car balance and a lack of grip, casting serious doubt on the team's competitiveness for the rest of the weekend.

Why it matters:

After a challenging start to F1's new era, Red Bull's apparent lack of pace at a high-speed, high-downforce circuit like Suzuka is a significant concern. Verstappen has yet to finish on the podium this season, and a repeat of this performance would severely dent his and the team's hopes of mounting a credible championship challenge against the likes of Mercedes and McLaren.

The details:

• Verstappen was off the pace in both practice sessions, finishing eight-tenths down in FP1 and 1.376 seconds behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri in FP2.
• He described the car's handling as "not very good," citing a lack of balance and grip that flipped between opposite problems from one session to the next.
• Attempts to fix one issue simply created another, leaving the team without a stable setup. Verstappen stated he doesn't "expect miracles overnight."
• The on-track struggles were compounded by off-track incidents, with the Dutchman involved in two separate stewards' investigations for impeding with Lewis Hamilton and erratic driving from Franco Colapinto.

What's next:

With qualifying and the race ahead, Red Bull faces a steep challenge to understand and rectify the RB22's issues at Suzuka. Verstappen has already tempered expectations, stating he doesn't believe he can challenge for pole or a podium. The team's immediate focus is on damage limitation this weekend, with hopes pinned on using the upcoming April break to analyze data and find fundamental improvements before the European season begins.