Max Verstappen’s struggles could worsen unless he delivers a strong F1 Japanese Grand Prix, it has been suggested.

The third round of the 2025 F1 season is next weekend at Suzuka, a circuit which Red Bull have often enjoyed.

Sebastian Vettel won in Japan four times before 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Verstappen tꦺriumphed three times in Red B🗹ull’s separate dominant periods.

But they head to Suzuka next weekend in drab form, unable to keep pace wi꧅th McLaren who claimed their constructors’ championship last year.

Liam Lawson has been repl𝐆aced as Verstapp♛en's teammate by Yuki Tsunoda.

McLaren have won in Australia through Lando Norris and in China through Oscar Piastri, and they sit top of the constructors’ again. Norris leads Verstappen in the d🧸rivers’, worryingly for Red Bull.

“Suzuka will be crucial. Traditionally the car is aero-efficient,” F1 Nation podcast Tom Clar🔴kson said.

Alex Jacques replied: “It’s a huge𒀰 test because if they’re not good there, you start looking around the calendar and saying ‘wow’.

“It’s strange because he kept himself afloat las༒t year.”

Verstappen trails Norris by eight points in the drivers’ standings. He finished fourth in Chi🌃na by overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was carrying damage, in the final exchanges.

“I think he is perfo🌳rming wonders with what car,” Jacque♔s said about the F1 champion.

“To be within two hundredths of a second fr⛦om sprint pole was ludicrous. Watch the onboard, he is hacking away at the steering wheel like an axe chopping ꦚat a tree.

“He is having to use all of his𓄧 ﷺbrilliance to get to fourth in a grand prix.

“It took him 20-odd laps until he looked like Max Verstappen. He has to be patient, use everything that he has learne🦂d in his career, to finish fourth.

“The🗹y have to stu▨dy the data and decide on a development direction.

“I think the Ferrari has a really narrow operating window, but the 🌳Rꦺed Bull is the fourth-fastest car.”

'Lack of confidence' at Red Bull

Laura Winter added: “He overtook🍌 Leclerc who was without an end-plate, and with 20-30 points less of downforce.

“It was such a subdued performance from Red Bull. Gianpier𓄧o Lambiase was having to gee him up, saying ‘weᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ can do this’.

“GP encourages Mꦺax with an air of dominance, never for P4 or P5.

“There was a difference in how they appꦡroached the race. There is clearly a lacking of confidence in the car.”

Verstappen is seeking a fifth consecutive drivers’ title this year but looks꧑ likely to have sterner competition than ever.

In 2026, the new F1 regu♏l✨ations will create a clean playing field for any team to establish a new era of dominance.

Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has be🎃en up for debate, as a result.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown cheekily claimed he thinks Verstapp🍸en will joinཧ Mercedes.

But, Verst🐓appen shrugged off questions about quitting Red Bull last weekend in China.

He will hope their car finds performan♏ce as the season goes on, knowing he can’t afford to let Norris’ lead at the top of the drivers’ standings grow too much.