Before the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, both Isack Hadjar and Laurent Mekies had openly admitted that Red Bull could find itself as only the fifth-fastest team in the early stages of the championship. After the third round of the season at Suzuka, that prediction appears to have been confirmed. Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in eighth place, unable to get past Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, which secured seventh after a race-long battle. The result effectively places the Milton Keynes-based team behind Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Alpine in the current pecking order.
Max Verstappen struggling in race conditions
It was a frustrating contest for the Dutch driver, who never truly found a way past Gasly. The Alpine driver even had the chance to acknowledge Verstappen with a wave after retaking position before Turn 1, following an earlier attack from Max at the final chicane. Their duel resembled a constant “yo-yo” battle, with repeated exchanges of positions shaped largely by how effectively each driver deployed their electrical energy.
This back-and-forth highlighted one of the defining — and controversial — characteristics of the current generation of Formula 1 cars. Energy deployment has become a decisive factor in overtaking battles, often creating situations where a driver can pass, only to be immediately re-passed on the next straight. As a result, the natural flow of wheel-to-wheel racing is frequently disrupted, raising concerns about the spectacle and sporting integrity of on-track fights.
Max Verstappen speaks out
Speaking after the race, the four-time world champion did not hide his frustration with how the race unfolded and with the broader limitations imposed by the current technical regulations.
“Did I wave at Gasly? Yes,” Verstappen said to Viaplay. “If I can draw his rear wing in detail? I studied it well in China — I studied a lot of rear wings there because we were stuck behind so many cars. You can’t overtake normally with these cars. You use the battery and then you get passed again because the other driver uses their battery.”
His comments underline a growing dissatisfaction among drivers regarding the balance between hybrid energy management and pure racing. The constant need to manage battery deployment not only affects race strategy but also reduces the spontaneity of overtaking attempts.
“I was counting the laps to the finish,” Verstappen added. “Fifteen, ten, five — and then it was over!”
Red Bull’s position under pressure
Beyond individual frustration, Verstappen’s race in Japan also reflects a broader issue for Red Bull. The RB22 appears to lack the outright performance needed to consistently challenge the leading teams, and its weaknesses become even more apparent in traffic, where energy management plays a critical role.
With Mercedes setting the benchmark and both Ferrari and McLaren making clear progress, Red Bull now finds itself in an unfamiliar position — fighting not for victories, but to remain competitive within the top five. Alpine’s strong showing at Suzuka further complicates the picture, suggesting that the midfield battle could be tighter than expected.
As the championship heads into a short break, the key question for Red Bull is whether it can respond quickly enough through development. For Verstappen, however, the issue goes beyond pure performance. His criticism points to a deeper concern about the direction of Formula 1, where overtaking dynamics and energy management are increasingly shaping the racing experience.
If no adjustments are made, both technically and in terms of regulations, frustrations like those expressed by Verstappen in Suzuka may become a recurring theme throughout the 2026 season.
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