Four-time world champion Max Verstappen cut a disconsolate figure Saturday after qualifying only eighth for the Chinese Grand Prix, saying every lap in his underperforming Red Bull was about “survival”.
The once dominant Red Bulls have suffered more than most from Formula One’s sweeping new regulations in 2026.
Verstappen failed to finish in the points in the morning sprint race, limping home in ninth and for the second day running was no quicker than eighth on the timesheets in any session.
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“Nothing works. So it’s just not nice,” a down-in-the-dumps Verstappen told Sky F1 after finishing almost a second behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes.
“I cannot push. Every lap is honestly survival for me. I’m not enjoying it at all.”
The Red Bulls struggled for pace again on the second race weekend of the season with their new in-house power units backed by Ford having replaced Honda as engine supplier.
They are also clearly far from getting to grips with the new aerodynamic and chassis regulations as Formula 1 enters an era of a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power.
“It’s just very inconsistent. I cannot build a reference in qualifying,” said Verstappen.
“Whatever lap I do, I’m like, that’s it? Can I go four tenths faster? Maybe? Can I go four tenths slower? That’s a big chance as well, because it’s just all over the place.”
His teammate Isack Hadjar was ninth, having barely scraped into the top-10 shootout in qualifying.
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Verstappen, who fought back from a qualifying crash in the opening race in Australia last weekend to finish sixth from 20th on the grid, held out little hope he could challenge in Sunday’s race.
“It’s just incredibly difficult,” he said.
“I honestly think it’s going to be quite tough tomorrow.”
The Chinese Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday at 6pm AEDT.
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