Verstappen not expecting ‘miracles’ for Red Bull in Japan

Max Verstappen expressed frustration following a difficult opening day at the Japanese Grand Prix, citing significant balance and grip issues with his Red Bull. Despite introducing aerodynamic upgrades, both Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar struggled with car handling, leaving the team searching for solutions to their ongoing reliability and performance struggles this season. Verstappen noted that the car's behavior shifted between sessions, making it difficult to find a consistent setup. Red Bull’s chief engineer, Paul Monaghan, acknowledged that their current performance falls below team standards but expressed optimism that identifying specific issues will allow them to make necessary adjustments before qualifying.