Red Bull struggles in Canada: Verstappen only seventh in sprint qualifying

Max Verstappen finished seventh in sprint qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix, a disappointing result after Red Bull's strong showing in Miami. The reigning champion struggled with the car's ride over bumps and kerbs, even losing contact with the pedals. Team-mate Isack Hadjar ended just behind in eighth.

Why it matters:

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve traditionally rewards aggressive kerb usage, and Red Bull's inability to handle them cost a significant lap time advantage. With the field tightening in 2026, any weakness is exploited by rivals.

The details:

• Verstappen was never comfortable: “My feet were flying off the pedals. I couldn't be consistent.”
• He felt the car performance deteriorated as SQ3 progressed, forcing him to settle for P7.
• Pirelli noted extremely low grip on Friday, and drivers struggled to get tyres up to temperature, prompting multiple warm-up laps.
• Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché: “We saw a direction to go in – we had more performance but couldn't extract it.”
• Parc fermé will be opened before main qualifying, giving Red Bull a chance to adjust setup.

What's next:

Red Bull's focus is twofold: improving tyre operating window and solving the ride quality so both drivers can push nearer the limit. If resolved, they could challenge for pole; if not, another midfield start looms.