Saturday 28 March 2026 09:07, UK. Max Verstappen’s difficult start to the season continued at Suzuka as he was eliminated in Q2 and will therefore start Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix outside the top 10. The unexpected qualifying exit is a rare setback for the multiple world champion and leaves Red Bull needing to rethink strategy overnight. Verstappen and his engineers must find performance gains and consider alternative tyre and pit-stop plans to recover positions in the race. The result ramps up pressure on Verstappen as he tries to halt a challenging run of form, while rival teams seize a clear opportunity to score big points at a circuit where overtaking can be tough. Suzuka’s unpredictable conditions and traffic helped produce a surprise outcome, leaving the title contender with significant work to do before lights out on Sunday.
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