Verstappen admits Red Bull are in the ‘midfield battle’

Max Verstappen finished P8 at the Japanese Grand Prix, struggling with his Red Bull car and conceding that the team has slipped into the midfield battle. Unable to overtake Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Verstappen highlighted issues with battery deployment and overall vehicle balance at Suzuka. After a disappointing Q2 exit, the reigning champion expressed concern about Red Bull’s current form under the new 2026 regulations. The team now has a five-week break to analyze these technical challenges before the Miami Grand Prix, as they look to recover from a difficult start to their new power unit era.