FORMULA 1 F1 CALENDAR 2026 LEWIS HAMILTON MOTOGP RUMOURS

Gloomy Verstappen brands Sprint Qualifying as a 'disaster' for Red Bull in China

Photo: Race Pictures

10:17, 13 Mar

byOlly Darcy

Max Verstappen branded a dismal Sprint Qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix as a "disaster" after finishing down in P8.

"The big problem for us is that the cornering is just completely out."

- Max Verstappen

The four-time World Champion was 1.7 seconds behind the Mercedes of George Russell, racing away with sprint pole after another impressive showing for the Brit and Mercedes.

However, it was the opposite for Verstappen and Red Bull, with the Dutchman so far off the pace that he saw former teammate and Alpine driver Pierre Gasly out-qualify him by four-tenths to take P7.

As a result, Verstappen will start Saturday's sprint race from the fourth row of the grid, with nothing positive to take from a disappointing session.

Max Verstappen was a second behind Oscar Piastri in P5 at the end of Sprint Qualifying - Photo: Race Pictures

"It's been a disaster pace-wise," Verstappen started by saying to F1TV after the disappointing qualifying session.

"There's no grip, and I would say I think that's the biggest problem. No balance, just losing massive amounts of time in the corners, to be honest.

"Then, of course, because of that, you start triggering other little problems. But the big problem for us is that the cornering is just completely out."

Verstappen unsure about possible improvements

Alarm bells will be ringing throughout the Red Bull garages and headquarters after finishing so far behind the leading Mercedes of Russell.

There will also be some concern about improvements, as Verstappen did not cut a positive figure when asked whether anything could be salvaged from the current situation.

"We'll have a look. At the moment, I don't know what we can do. But yeah, we'll see," was all the four-time World Champion could say in response.

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Max Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar could only finish P10 in Sprint Qualifying, finishing five-tenths behind the Dutchman - Photo: Race Pictures

Russell dominates Friday in Shanghai

The 2026 Formula 1 season started stunningly for Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix with a one-two finish, and that looks likely once again in Shanghai.

Russell topped both the FP1 and Sprint Qualifying standings to solidify Mercedes' position as the team to beat, with the Brit setting a 1:31.520 to three-tenths quicker than anyone else.

Teammate Kimi Antonelli finished three-tenths off the pace in P2, while Lando Norris in his McLaren was half a second off the lead, just pipping Lewis Hamilton in P4.