Max Verstappen: Every lap is survival in "undriveable" Red Bull F1 car
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Max Verstappen lamented Red Bull's "undriveable" Formula 1 car as he suggested "every lap is like survival" after qualifying eighth for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Verstappen finished ninth in Saturday morning's sprint after a disastrous start dropped him down the order like a brick, and will be eighth on the grid after Red Bull was all at sea with its RB22.
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The Milton Keynes squad prided itself on its dramatic car set-up turnarounds between practice and qualifying last year, but despite turning the car upside down once more there were no miracles.
Both in the sprint and in grand prix qualifying Verstappen suffered the nightmare of every race car driver - a car that both oversteers and understeers and won't communicate what it will decide to do next.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingIt left Verstappen nine tenths off pole in ninth, with team-mate Isack Hadjar another tenth in arrears.
"We changed a lot on the car, and it makes zero difference," Verstappen explained. "The whole weekend we've been off, the car is completely undriveable. I cannot even put a bit of a reference in. Every lap is like survival. The balance is really disconnected."
When asked where his issues come from, he replied: "A little bit on the engine, but that's not probably the biggest side. We lose so much with the car at the moment around here. Plus, also I cannot push at all because the car doesn't let me. So that's why I don't really feel in control of the car. It's just really not how it should be. From lap one of this new regulation I've not enjoyed this car, for sure."
It means Verstappen has little hope of moving up the order, thinking he will finish Sunday's race "where I'm at".
Verstappen revealed his start issue was similar to Liam Lawson's dramatically sluggish getaway in Melbourne, but ruled out any problems charging his battery.
"The battery was fine. But I didn't get enough power from the engine. I basically had the same problem as what Liam had more or less in Australia. I hope we can fix it. Otherwise I'm P20 again," the four-time world champion said.
Max Verstappen has not enjoyed the 2026 Red Bull F1 car for one second thus far
Max Verstappen has not enjoyed the 2026 Red Bull F1 car for one second thus farRed Bull didn't look as uncompetitive in Melbourne, where Hadjar qualified third and a crash prevented Verstappen from occupying the second row too.
But according to Verstappen's new team-mate, last week's result was more down to Red Bull's rivals underperforming than anything to do with Red Bull's own car performance.
"No, it's not different," he said. "I think we were eight tenths off in Melbourne on a smaller track. Here it's a lot bigger, which just exposes us a bit more. So, the lap time loss is bigger, but we have the same performance. I think they [Ferrari and McLaren] really messed up last weekend. That's all I can say.
"We were on the edge of what we have as a package. So we suffer for now, and then we're going to make progress anyway through the season."
Photos from Chinese GP - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLarenMark Thompson / Getty Images
Fans
FansSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsAnni Graf - Formula 1 via Getty Images
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing BullsKym Illman / Getty Images
Alexandra Leclerc arrives in the Paddock
Alexandra Leclerc arrives in the PaddockAlex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing BullsKym Illman / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing BullsKym Illman / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac Team Principal; Frederic Vasseur, Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal
Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac Team Principal; Frederic Vasseur, Scuderia Ferrari Team PrincipalJayce Illman / Getty Images
Laura Mueller, Race Engineer, Haas F1 on the grid
Laura Mueller, Race Engineer, Haas F1 on the gridGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin RacingAlastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesJames Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Mickey Mouse branding is seen on the trackside kerbs
Mickey Mouse branding is seen on the trackside kerbsSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingLars Baron / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLarenLars Baron / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, MercedesLintao Zhang / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLarenAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing BullsLars Baron / Getty Images
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing BullsLars Baron / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, MercedesJade Gao - Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamAlastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 TeamLintao Zhang / LAT Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineJames Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLarenSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing BullsAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariLars Baron / Getty Images
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesJames Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesJames Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, MercedesJade Gao - Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariJames Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, MercedesJames Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, MercedesJames Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesMario Renzi / Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesMark Thompson / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team crash
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team crashGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
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