Max Verstappen expressed frustration with his Red Bull RB22's performance and the 2026 Formula 1 regulations following the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The four-time champion finished unable to overtake Alpine's Pierre Gasly due to energy management issues and highlighted safety concerns after Oliver Bearman's heavy crash. Verstappen suggested using 'safety' arguments to prompt rule changes.
Three rounds into the 2026 F1 season, Max Verstappen sits ninth in the drivers' standings with 12 points, as his Red Bull RB22 struggles for pace. At Suzuka, a track he loves, Verstappen was knocked out in Q2 qualifying and spent much of the race stuck behind Gasly, unable to pass effectively. 'I was a tiny bit faster a lap, but you just can't pass – well you can pass, but then you have no battery the next straight,' Verstappen told reporters post-race. Red Bull has also dropped behind Alpine in the constructors' championship. Verstappen blamed the new engine formula and energy management rules for making overtaking nearly impossible, especially on tracks like Suzuka with consecutive long straights and minimal charging opportunities. He described how deploying battery power on one straight leaves none for the next, rendering attacks inefficient. 'It's completely inefficient to do that,' he said. The race saw Haas driver Oliver Bearman suffer a 50G crash after closing on Franco Colapinto's Alpine at 45km/h faster due to power differences. Verstappen noted the dangers: 'One guy is completely stuck with no power basically, and then the other one uses the mushroom mode and it can be 50km/h, 60km/h difference. It's really, really big.' He sarcastically remarked that invoking 'safety' could speed up fixes ahead of Miami. Despite the challenges, Verstappen remains motivated, planning family time and preparation for the Nurburgring 24 Hours during the five-week April break. He aims to improve car stability and engine deployment.
