Max Verstappen has indicated he has "a lot of stuff to personally figure out" after securing 11th place in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver expressed his frustration regarding the recent changes in Formula 1's engine regulations, which he feels have lessened the sport's competitive edge.
"You know how I think about a lot of stuff, right? I don't need to mention it again. So a lot of stuff for me to personally figure out," Verstappen stated. "Life. Life here."
The qualifying performance of Verstappen and Red Bull at Suzuka presents a stark contrast to previous seasons. Remarkably, Verstappen was outpaced in qualifying by his new teammate Isack Hadjar, who will start from eighth position. The Dutch driver previously secured pole position and victory in the last five Japanese Grands Prix, with this year's pole being claimed by Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
In the previous year, Verstappen's pole lap, which outperformed both McLaren drivers, was celebrated as one of his finest moments and laid the groundwork for a defensive victory against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
This season, Red Bull has faced significant challenges following what is currently seen as the most extensive rule alteration in F1 history.
Other drivers have also shared their concerns regarding the effects of the new regulations on qualifying sessions. The hybrid engines now have an equal division between internal combustion and electrical power, necessitating energy management that many drivers believe has rendered corners less demanding.
Verstappen elaborated, "I'm not even frustrated anymore. I'm beyond that. I don't know the right word in English for it. I don't know what to make of it, to be honest. I don't get upset about it. I don't get disappointed or frustrated by it anymore with what's going on. It's a lot of stuff together that at the moment is just not as nice for me."
Lando Norris, starting from fifth, echoed similar feelings, stating, "It still hurts your soul when you see your speed dropping so much, 56km/h down the straight. It feels special, but it doesn’t feel as amazing as last year."
Lewis Hamilton also commented on the challenges related to energy deployment, noting, "My first lap, I was up at least to Charles (Leclerc) but lost 0.25 secs just down the back straight because of deployment. That's not ideal."
The difficulties stemming from the new engine regulations have prompted F1's governing bodies to recognize the necessity for a reassessment of the qualifying rules. A meeting will convene post-race to explore potential modifications, while ensuring that the beneficial aspects of current regulations, such as improved overtaking opportunities, are retained.
Carlos Sainz remarked, "The more you push, the slower you went. Overall not good enough for F1."
The Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled to commence at 06:00 BST on Sunday, with live commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live and live text updates on the BBC Sport website.
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