Verstappen admits 'not a good day' as Red Bull struggles continue in Japan

Max Verstappen described his Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix as "not very good," finishing a concerning 10th in second practice and admitting Red Bull has "a lot of work" to do to understand its ongoing struggles with the RB22's balance and drivability.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's persistent complaints about the car's unpredictable handling, even after major setup changes between sessions, signal a deep-rooted issue that could threaten Red Bull's competitiveness at a circuit where it has traditionally excelled. With the 2026 season still young, failing to find a quick fix could allow rivals to build an early and potentially decisive championship advantage.

The details:

• Persistent Problems: Verstappen reported a severe lack of balance and grip, calling both of Red Bull's setup experiments for FP1 and FP2 "two opposites" and stating that "both of them not very good."
• Setup Confusion: Attempts to correct the car's behavior in one area simply created new problems elsewhere, leaving the team without a coherent direction. "You just try to correct one thing and then you get another one," Verstappen explained.
• Tempered Expectations: The four-time champion was pessimistic about an overnight solution, stating, "It's very difficult to solve at the moment, so I don't expect miracles overnight." The priority is now understanding the core origin of the issues.
• Off-Track Drama: The difficult day was compounded by a stewards' investigation into an incident between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at Turn 15 during FP1, though no major penalty resulted.

What's next:

Red Bull faces a critical overnight analysis session to diagnose the RB22's fundamental flaws before final practice and qualifying. Verstappen's lack of confidence suggests the team may be searching for a compromise setup rather than a performance breakthrough for the rest of the weekend. If the issues persist into qualifying, it could result in Verstappen's worst grid position at Suzuka in years, putting immediate pressure on Red Bull's race strategy and damage limitation efforts.