During qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen once again experienced problems with his machinery. Initially, he complained it was difficult to get temperature into the tyres and that reaching the right window was very challenging. Verstappen then also complained about a lack of top speed, ultimately finishing P6.

After the session, the four-time world champion told Dutch broadcasterViaplay that he was dealing with very strange issues and that Red Bull Racing didn’t know what to make of it either. Verstappen said he asked several times over the team radio what was going on but received no response from the team.

"I don’t know if we did everything right there, but I asked a few times and heard nothing. I got nothing, no feedback. So I just drove my laps. But it wasn’t all that great. A bit better over the curbs and the bumps, but then I lost downforce with that setup. So in the end it didn’t make much difference. You end up going around in circles. They probably don’t know themselves either,” Verstappen added.

"I have no idea. It’s all a bit weird,” Verstappen continued. His teammate Isack Hadjar seemed more comfortable in the RB22, finishing just behind in P7. Apparently, the Dutchman’s side of the garage was trying something that Verstappen already knew wouldn’t work. “Because I’ve tried it many times and it never works. But they are convinced. But it’s clear that it doesn’t work,” said Verstappen.

Finally, Verstappen was wished good luck with the debrief at Red Bull Racing. “Oh yeah, it is what it is,” the Dutchman responded matter-of-factly.

Elsewhere, Verstappen once again threatened to walk away from Formula 1 following qualifying.

Speaking to GPBlog and others after qualifying, the Dutchman was reminded of his recent remarks in which he had confirmed his intention to remain in Formula 1 next season. He nevertheless admitted that, if the current situation were to continue unchanged into next year, he could begin reconsidering his future, stressing that competing under such conditions for another full season would be mentally unsustainable for him.

Verstappen said: “If it stays like this, it's going to be a long year next year, which I don't want. I can tell you if it stays like this, then let's see. It's just mentally not doable for me to stay like this. It's really not”