Verstappen 'beyond frustrated' after shock Q2 exit at Suzuka

Max Verstappen was eliminated in Q2 at the Japanese Grand Prix, labeling his Red Bull "undriveable" and expressing a level of frustration that has left him searching for words. The three-time champion, who has taken pole at Suzuka for the last four years, will start a lowly 11th, while teammate Isack Hadjar made it to Q3 in eighth place.

Why it matters:

This marks a significant low point in Verstappen's recent dominance. It's the first time since Baku 2024 he has been out-qualified by a teammate on pure pace without a car failure, signaling deep-rooted issues with Red Bull's 2026 car. With only eight points from the first two races, his title defense is already under severe threat, amplifying the pressure on the team to find immediate solutions.

The details:

• Verstappen's frustration was palpable post-session, stating he was "beyond" being frustrated or disappointed with the ongoing car problems.
• The Dutch driver highlighted a critical and unpredictable balance issue, suffering from excessive oversteer on corner entry while the car fails to turn properly in the mid-corner phase.
• Red Bull brought a significant update package to Japan, including new sidepods, floor, and engine cover. Verstappen suggested he is running the new parts, but they have failed to improve the car's drivability, describing the package as "not working."
• Team Principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the team's unhappiness, admitting Red Bull is "missing overall performance in many different areas" and has been unable to extract everything from its new car, which was developed very late last season.

What's next:

The immediate focus for Red Bull is understanding the fundamental flaws in its RB22. Mekies emphasized that the team is pushing hard to develop its way back to the front, but first must diagnose the exact limitations. For Verstappen, starting from 11th at a track like Suzuka where overtaking is difficult presents a massive challenge to salvage points. This early-season struggle sets the stage for a critical development race and tests the team's resilience under unprecedented pressure for the Verstappen era.