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Max Verstappen calls China sprint qualifying a disaster: can Red Bull recover in time?

Harry Bright by Harry Bright
March 13, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 13: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 13, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202603130315 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen's Sprint Session in China: A Catastrophic Setback for Red Bull Racing

In a shocking display of frustration and disappointment, Max Verstappen has described his recent sprint qualifying session in China as an unequivocal “disaster.” The reigning four-time world champion found himself languishing in eighth place, a position far below the lofty expectations that surround Red Bull Racing. The session was marred by a series of setbacks, including maddening handling issues that left Verstappen grappling with his car's performance.

The drama unfolded dramatically as Verstappen's pursuit of speed was thwarted by a series of unfortunate events. Notably, he ran wide at the final corner during SQ2, veering into the gravel just moments after an incident with Pierre Gasly that the Dutch driver deemed “ridiculous.” Despite a last-ditch effort to salvage his session, Verstappen could only manage to secure a position on the fourth row for Saturday’s race, a far cry from the dominance fans have come to expect from the Red Bull team.

“The whole day has been a disaster, pace-wise,” Verstappen lamented. “No grip. Honestly, I think that's the biggest problem. No grip, no balance, just losing massive amounts of time in the corners.” His candid reflection underscores the gravity of the technical issues plaguing his vehicle. “Because of that, you start triggering other little problems. But the big problem for us is that the cornering is completely out,” he added, painting a bleak picture of Red Bull's current form.

The turbulence didn't stop with Verstappen; his teammate Isack Hadjar also experienced a lackluster performance, finishing in 10th place. With the cars now locked in parc ferme conditions ahead of the sprint race, the team faces an uphill battle to rectify these issues in time for Saturday's qualifying session.

When questioned about the possibility of Red Bull turning around their fortunes for the remainder of the weekend, Verstappen was noncommittal yet hopeful. “We'll have a look. I don't know at the moment what we can do. But we'll see,” he stated, leaving fans on the edge of their seats, eager to see if the team can bounce back from this ominous setback.

As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on Red Bull Racing to see if they can transform this “disaster” into a resurgence, or if they will continue to struggle in the shadow of their rivals. The thrilling world of Formula 1 is always unpredictable, and this saga is just beginning.

Tags: formula-1-enmax-verstappen-enRed Bull Racing
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