Max Verstappen has declared 'we keep pushing' shortly after his furious outburst at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver endured a torrid Q2 session at Suzuka, being knocked out in the second phase of qualifying and managing only 11th place on the grid.
The four-time Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion branded his car 'undriveable' after struggling through medium to high-speed corners despite significant alterations to his vehicle, including overhauled sidepods, floor and engine cover. His team-mate Isack Hadjar fared considerably better, sailing through to Q3 with an eighth-place finish.
Verstappen made no attempt to conceal his frustration during media commitments, lambasting the state of his car and appearing to hint at doubts over his long-term future with the Milton Keynes-based team. However, his most recent social media post seems to have thrown cold water on those rumours, showing a photo of himself striding down a lengthy corridor with the caption 'We keep pushing' — a clear indication he has no intention of dwelling on his dismal Q2 showing.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Verstappen said: 'The car never turns mid corner, but at the same time this weekend, it's just oversteering a lot on entry. It's really difficult, unpredictable. We thought we'd fixed it a little bit in FP3, I mean there was still a lot of understeer in the car, but now in qualifying for me it was again undriveable.' He added that he was driving with a different aero package that 'seems like that's not working'.
Verstappen arrived in Japan having claimed pole position at Suzuka in each of the previous four races, making his Q2 exit all the more surprising. Despite the setback, his social media message suggests a determination to turn things around as the 2026 F1 campaign continues.
