Max Verstappen has endured a torrid start to the 2026 season. Here is what our F1 expert Daniel Moxon had to say on the former world champion.
“It’s not just raining but really pouring right now for Max Verstappen,” he began.
“Let’s recap on what he’s put up with already in this still very new season – other than the general fact that he quite simply hates this new generation of F1 cars.
“He started the new year with a crash in his first qualifying session, for the Australian GP, and needed an X-ray on his hands. Luckily, no lasting damage was done.
“Twenty-four hours later he described his race, despite recovering from the back of the grid to finish sixth, as a disaster.It didn’t get better in China. He finished ninth in the Sprint as he struggled which what seems to be a wretched Red Bull RB22 and had to retire from the main GP. No points scored at all in Shanghai.
“And then even when he got away from F1 for a week and had much more fun racing a GT car at the Nurburgring, it still ended in disappointment as his win was stripped away through disqualification.
“It’s showing no sign of getting any better here in Suzuka where he has shone in recent years, but didn’t even make it to Q3 on Saturday. If this unexpected early-season break has come at the perfect time for anyone, it’s Max and Red Bull.”