Verstappen’s Suzuka nightmare: Can Red Bull end their losing streak at the Japanese GP?

Suzuka: Max Verstappen admitted the Japanese Grand Prix remains among his most cherished stops on the calendar, yet his prospects for a fifth consecutive victory this weekend appear increasingly bleak as Red Bull continues to flounder under Formula One’s transformative new regulations.

The early stages of the 2026 season have instead belonged to Mercedes. Drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have established a dominant rhythm, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton currently positioned as their most formidable threats heading into Suzuka.

Red Bull and McLaren are both reeling from catastrophic season openers. While Verstappen is desperate to find pace, McLaren’s defending world champion, Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri failed to even start in China due to a series of technical malfunctions.

Verstappen’s Frustration with "Mario Kart" Rules

The four-time world champion’s season has been defined by mechanical struggles. Verstappen finished sixth in Australia following a qualifying crash, then limped to a point-less ninth in the Shanghai sprint before a cooling failure forced his retirement on lap 46 of the main race.

The Dutchman has been vocal in his disdain for the 2026 technical package, which features a 50-50 power split between internal combustion and electrical energy. He has labelled the new designs "anti-racing," comparing the heavy reliance on electrical boosts and overtake modes to the "Mario Kart" video game.

"Getting on top of our problems is not easy," Verstappen said in Shanghai. "It would help if we would just have a normal start — I've been every time dropping to last."

Even a brief foray into endurance racing provided no relief; Verstappen competed in a four-hour race in Germany last weekend and won, only to be disqualified shortly after.

The Rise of Antonelli

In contrast to Red Bull’s gloom, Mercedes has secured back-to-back one-two finishes. Championship leader George Russell triumphed in Melbourne and took the checkered flag in the Shanghai sprint, while his 19-year-old teammate, Kimi Antonelli, secured a maiden career victory in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Antonelli, who recently became the youngest pole-sitter in the sport's history, returned to a hero’s welcome in his hometown of Bologna. The Italian teenager noted that the win "removed a bit of weight from my shoulders" and provided "more awareness of what you can do."

Mercedes is now targeting its first victory at Suzuka since Valtteri Bottas won the event in 2019.

McLaren’s Nightmare Start

McLaren has struggled perhaps most acutely with the complex battery management and energy harvesting requirements of the new era. Norris, who bluntly stated his car "sucks," already trails Russell by 36 points in the standings. Piastri has yet to complete a single lap of Grand Prix racing this year after crashing on his way to the grid in Melbourne.

"We just have to take it on the chin, learn what the problem was and make sure it never happens again," Norris said. "All of us want to go racing and score points."

Following the conclusion of the Japanese Grand Prix, the paddock will face an unusual five-week hiatus. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds were cancelled due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, leaving a significant gap before the circuit reconvenes for the Miami Grand Prix.

With inputs from AFP