Max Verstappen spoke after sprint qualifying wrapped up Friday in Shanghai. The results weren’t ideal for Red Bull. Verstappen will start Saturday’s Sprint from eighth position. His teammate Isack Hadjar qualified 10th.
George Russell took pole for Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli secured second, nearly three-tenths back. Lando Norris qualified third for McLaren, more than six-tenths behind Russell. Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five.
Verstappen finished 1.734 seconds off pole. The four-time Formula One world champion didn’t hold back when asked about his Friday performance.
Verstappen’s Comments After Qualifying
Verstappen was interviewed after the session.
“The whole day has been a disaster pace-wise,” Verstappen said. “No grip. Honestly, I think that’s the biggest problem. No grip, no balance, just losing massive amounts of time in the corners. Then because of that, you start to trigger other little problems. But the big problem for us is just the cornering is completely out.”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies addressed Verstappen over the radio during the session.
“Sorry, Max. Tough one, a lot to learn,” Mekies said. “The weekend is still long, we need to learn from today. Let’s try again.”
Verstappen complained about the car’s driveability throughout Sprint Qualifying. The performance fell short of expectations in Shanghai.
Max Verstappen on his frustrations with his car 🫣
Verstappen’s Broader Frustrations
Verstappen’s frustration extends beyond Red Bull’s car. He’s been vocal about the 2026 regulations and how they’ve changed the sport.
The new power units split output evenly between combustion engines and electric motors. Drivers have to manage battery levels. High-speed corners that used to test skill now serve as charging zones.
“I am a bit conflicted, because I don’t really enjoy to drive the car but I do enjoy working with the team,” Verstappen said earlier in the week. “I don’t want to leave [F1] but I also hope of course it gets better.”
Verstappen has discussed potential improvements with F1 and the FIA. He’s hoping changes will come. For now, he joked about his approach to the new regulations.
“I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch,” Verstappen said. “Practising a bit of Mario Kart.”
Max Verstappen prepping for the Chinese GP:
Red Bull Searching for Solutions
Verstappen was asked if Red Bull would try a different setup for Saturday’s qualifying.
“We’ll have a look,” Verstappen said. “I don’t know at the moment what we can do. We’ll see.”
His teammate Hadjar faced similar challenges. He qualified 10th, more than two seconds off pole. A battery deployment issue on his SQ3 lap limited his straight-line speed.
“We are just very far off Mercedes, a lot more than last weekend,” Hadjar said. “I was expecting Ferrari and McLaren to be ahead but not the gap overall to increase.”
GettyRed Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the sprint qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP via Getty Images)
Final Word Ahead of Saturday
Max Verstappen qualified eighth for the sprint race in Shanghai. He called Friday a disaster. Red Bull is searching for grip and balance heading into Saturday’s sprint and qualifying for the race.
The 2026 regulations have added another layer of frustration for Verstappen. He’s discussed improvements with F1 and the FIA.
Saturday will reveal whether Red Bull can find solutions.
Max Verstappen Drops Blunt Quote After Chinese GP Qualifying Disaster