Verstappen left exasperated after shock Q2 exit in Japan

Max Verstappen expressed extreme frustration after being unexpectedly eliminated in the second part of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix. Verstappen described his car as 'undriveable' as he qualified 11th at Suzuka, a track where he has secured the last four pole positions. However, his Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar managed to progress to Q3, finishing eighth. This marks the first time Verstappen has been outpaced in Grand Prix qualifying since September 2024 in Azerbaijan, excluding instances where he suffered car problems. 'I've gone beyond frustration; I'm at a loss for words,' Verstappen stated. He has struggled with the car's handling, particularly in medium to high-speed corners, and has only scored eight points after two rounds. Red Bull introduced new sidepods, floor, and engine cover to the Japanese Grand Prix, but Verstappen suggested that only he has the new parts, which have not improved the car's performance. 'The car fails to turn mid-corner and is oversteering a lot on entry, making it really difficult and unpredictable,' he explained. Team principal Laurent Mekies hopes that Red Bull can develop their way back to the front but acknowledges that they have yet to understand the cause of the balance issues. 'We need to identify our limitations before the development race can begin, and hopefully, we can make up ground,' Mekies said.