Verstappen 'Beyond Frustrated' After 8th Place Finish in Japanese GP

Verstappen unhappy with 'undriveable' Red Bull car

Verstappen's frustration boils over after tough weekend in Suzuka, considers F1 future. Red Bull's struggles continue as Verstappen finishes 8th in Japan, questions direction of F1.

Max Verstappen finishes 8th in Japanese GP, Red Bull learns from tough outing as both cars score points...

Max Verstappen is having a tough time. He qualified 11th for the Japanese Grand Prix and finished 8th, leaving him “beyond frustrated.” The four-time world champion is no stranger to criticism, especially when it comes to Formula 1's new regulations and engine era. He's vocal about his discontent, stating “this is not sustainable” for Red Bull.

Verstappen's struggles are evident, and he's considering his future in F1. He mentioned he's thinking about “life here” and whether it's worth continuing, citing the new rules' emphasis on energy management over flat-out racing. The Dutchman has been exploring other racing opportunities, including GT3 and the 24 Hours of Nuerburgring.

“Yesterday was a disaster, today I just maximised my race ‌, but the feeling in the car is exactly the same as qualifying,” the ‌Dutch driver told Sky Sports television. “I was just trying to hang ‌on to it, basically, in the race.”

Max Verstappen's taking a breather. With no F1 action until May's Emilia Romagna GP, he's focusing on other racing ventures, like the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in May, and doing stuff that puts a smile on his face. He's also planning to touch base with Red Bull about improving their car, as they look to bounce back stronger.

The April Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds were called off due to Gulf conflicts, so F1's taking a longer break. Verstappen's using this time to recharge and explore other racing thrills. 

“Try and find more pace and just a more stable balance,” he added. “Because this is not sustainable for us... we need to work hard to understand our problems and of ⁠course bring improvements.”

Max Verstappen's winning streak in Japan was due for a break, and 2026 didn't exactly start strong for him. He managed a sixth-place finish in Melbourne, but that's been the highlight so far. The 28-year-old is having a tough time, and it's not just about the racing – he's also been in the news for a clash with a British reporter, raising concerns about his state of mind after losing his title to Lando Norris last season.

Verstappen's frustrations are largely directed at the new F1 regulations, which he feels are “anti-racing” and prioritize energy management over flat-out speed. He's been vocal about his discontent, saying he's not enjoying the sport like he used to, and is considering his future in F1. With his contract running until 2028, it's unclear what he'll decide, but fans are worried they might lose one of the sport's biggest stars.

On a brighter note, Red Bull finally had a clean sweep in Suzuka. Both cars finished the Japanese Grand Prix, a first for the season's first three races. Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar brought it home in 12th place.

Suzuka Sunday: complete ✅

Max battles hard to claim P8, with Isack outside the points after the Safety Car impacted his race 💙

🏁 | ANT, PIA, LEC, RUS, NOR, HAM, GAS, Max 👊, LAW, OCO.#F1 || #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/QCqftudnk2

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 29, 2026

Red Bull's team principal Laurent Mekies is staying optimistic, saying, “Today we learned a lot more about where our cars' current limitations are.” They're using this experience to regroup and improve.

“It was important for us to ‌get involved in those battles and for both Max and Isack to complete the race distance, so we could continue to gather more ‌data.

“Of course, we have a lot of work to do and we now have a few weeks to try and find some fixes for those limitations. There is not just one area we can pinpoint as being the cause of our difficulties and we ⁠need to work on all areas. ⁠

“It feels bad now, but ‌I have full confidence in the team.”