Verstappen's shocking 11th-place start stuns Suzuka after 'undriveable' Red Bull
Max Verstappen faced a difficult weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix after qualifying a surprising 11th. The reigning champion, who had won at Suzuka for the past four years, struggled with his Red Bull car throughout the session. His frustration extended beyond the track, following an earlier clash with a reporter during a press conference.
Verstappen's troubles began early in the season. He crashed in Q3 at the Australian Grand Prix opener and later retired from the Chinese Grand Prix. In Melbourne, he managed only sixth place, signalling deeper issues with the new Formula One regulations.
At Suzuka, the problems worsened. The 28-year-old described his RB22 as 'undriveable' after failing to progress beyond Q2. His lap time of 1:30.262 left him far behind his usual pace—a stark contrast to last year, when he secured pole with a track-record lap. Off the track, tensions flared on Thursday. Verstappen ejected a reporter from his news conference, adding to the drama of a challenging weekend. The team's performance this season has fallen well short of their previous dominance, with midfield competition now posing a real threat.
The result marks a sharp decline for Red Bull and Verstappen, who had dominated Suzuka in recent years. His early exit in qualifying leaves him with a tough race ahead. The team must now address the car's unpredictability if they hope to regain their competitive edge.
