

Max Verstappenâs Japanese Grand Prix qualifying unravelled in dramatic fashion as the Red Bull driver was knocked out in Q2, describing his RB22 as "completely undriveable".
The four-time world champion had already looked vulnerable in Q1, finishing ninth-fastest, before setting the 10th-quickest lap early in Q2. He trailed team-mate Isack Hadjar by just 0.024s and held a slender 0.049s advantage over Audiâs Nico Hulkenberg.
Although Verstappen found another tenth on his final attempt, it proved insufficient. A late surge from Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad â who improved by six tenths â vaulted him into 10th and pushed Verstappen into the drop zone. The Dutchman will start Sundayâs race from 11th on the grid.
"I think there is something wrong with the car mate, itâs completely undriveable suddenly in this qualifying," he told race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. "Jumping on high speed in the rear suddenly."
The issues appeared to intensify as qualifying progressed. Despite set-up changes made throughout the weekend â including what he described as a tweak that was ânot that bigâ â Verstappen said the carâs behaviour deteriorated further compared to final practice.
âWe made changes all weekend, but at the same time we also have some problems in the car that we're trying to fix, and I guess it was worse again in qualifying compared to FP3,â he explained.
The underlying problem, he suggested, is rooted in the chassis rather than the power unit.
âAs soon as you really tried to push, for me it was just all over the place. Really not good, and also really doesn't give you confidence to attack any corner. For me, I was just stuck, I couldn't push more.â
He added: âFrom the car side I think we are really struggling at the moment.â

Red Bullâs broader qualifying picture offered little reassurance. Hadjar progressed to Q3 but was outqualified by Alpineâs Pierre Gasly by three tenths â a stark contrast to Melbourne, where the teamâs French driver qualified third at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen acknowledged that the performance swing is difficult to explain.
âWe can see that Melbourne was better, and then somehow some things happened with the car while not even having touched the car, so that is always a big problem,â he said.
At a circuit he openly enjoys, the disconnect between driver and machinery appeared particularly stark.
âI mean, I'm not even frustrated anymore, you know, I'm beyond that,â Verstappen admitted. âI don't know what to make of it, to be honest. I don't get upset about it, I don't get disappointed or frustrated by it anymore with what's going on.â
For now, Verstappen can only look ahead to incremental fixes.
âFor sure we'll fix a few things, hopefully in the coming weeks, months,â he said.
But at Suzuka, the immediate reality is clear: a car lacking balance, confidence and consistency has left Red Bullâs lead driver outside the top 10 â and searching for solutions rather than pole positions.

Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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