Max Verstappen fumes at Red Bull after frustrating Canadian GP qualifying..read more
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen did not hold back in his criticism of Red Bull after a difficult qualifying session for the Canadian Grand Prix, describing the car’s straight-line performance as “completely s***” during a heated radio exchange with his team.
The Dutch driver endured a frustrating afternoon at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he could only secure sixth place on the grid for Sunday’s race. Verstappen will start from the third row alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton after struggling throughout qualifying to extract consistent pace from his RB machinery.
From the opening stages of the session, Verstappen appeared uncomfortable behind the wheel. The primary issue centered around tyre temperature, with the Red Bull star repeatedly complaining that he could not get the front tyres into the correct operating window. At one point during Q2, Verstappen compared the handling of the car to “driving on ice,” highlighting just how little grip he felt on the low-temperature rubber.
The problems became even more concerning when junior Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar briefly outpaced Verstappen during the second qualifying segment. Although Verstappen eventually progressed into Q3, the lack of confidence in the car remained evident, and he was unable to challenge the leading runners during the final shootout for pole position.
As the session unfolded, Verstappen’s frustration boiled over on team radio. The four-time world champion questioned the performance of the car on the straights, angrily asking his engineers: “What’s going on with this straight line speed, it’s completely s***.”
The blunt message reflected the growing concerns inside the Red Bull camp as rivals continue to close the gap in performance. While the team has enjoyed enormous success in recent seasons, the Canadian Grand Prix weekend has exposed several weaknesses in the current package, particularly in cooler conditions where tyre preparation has proven difficult.
Despite the setbacks, Verstappen remains firmly in the championship fight and will still be considered a major threat in Sunday’s race. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is well known for unpredictable weather, safety cars, and dramatic overtaking opportunities, factors that could help the Dutchman recover positions quickly once the lights go out.
Meanwhile, Mercedes driver George Russell secured a crucial pole position after thriving in the changing conditions, while several front-running teams appeared more comfortable managing tyre temperatures than Red Bull.
Attention will now turn to whether Verstappen and his engineers can resolve the balance and speed issues before race day. With rain potentially looming over Montreal, changing weather conditions could either worsen Red Bull’s struggles or provide Verstappen with the opportunity to produce another trademark recovery drive.
Either way, the champion’s explosive radio comments have once again revealed the intensity and pressure building within Formula 1’s most competitive teams as the 2026 season continues to heat up.