SHANGHAI - Max Verstappen described his Red Bull Formula One car as "completely undrivable" following qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. The four-time world champion secured eighth place on the grid for Sunday's race after a difficult sprint event earlier in the day.
"We changed a lot on the car, and it makes zero difference," Verstappen told reporters. "The whole weekend we've been off, the car is completely undriveable. Every lap is like survival."
Verstappen struggled significantly during the sprint race, dropping as low as 14th before finishing ninth. He cited a severe lack of balance and an inability to "lean on the car," making every lap a challenge.
This season marks Red Bull's first with their own engine, a departure from their partnership with Honda. While Verstappen acknowledged the new power unit as a contributing factor, he stated that a combination of issues is responsible for the poor performance. He admitted to not enjoying the car since the introduction of new regulations and anticipates a difficult race.