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2026 FIA Formula One World Championship
2026 Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka City, Japan
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen is at risk of seeing his dominance of the Japanese Grand Prix come to an end on March 29.
The Dutchman has enjoyed great success at the Suzuka Circuit in recent times, winning the race four years running since Formula One returned to Japan in 2022.
But a fifth straight victory looks unlikely as Red Bull has endured a horrendous start to the season and find themselves firmly behind Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren in the pecking order.
Verstappen started 20th on the grid at the Australian Grand Prix, although he fought his way through the pack to claim P6, while team-mate Isack Hadjar retired with an engine problem.
Worse was to follow at the Chinese Grand Prix, where a coolant leak forced the four-time world champion into retirement, and Hadjar could only manage a P8 after failing to keep up with Haas' Oliver Bearman and Alpine's Pierre Gasly.
Verstappen has been very vocal about the new regulations implemented this year, but dismissed suggestions that his complaints stem from Red Bull's troubles in 2026.
"It's just Kimi [Antonelli] or George [Russell] who is winning, right? It's not really back and forth," he said.
"They're miles ahead of the field. It's just that Ferrari sometimes has these good starts that they push themselves in front, and then it takes a few laps to sort it all out.
"This has nothing to do with racing. I would say the same if I were winning races because I care about the racing product.
"It's not about being upset about where I am, because I'm actually fighting even more now, of course. So you get to understand what you have to do and what it is about even more. For me, it's really a joke."
2026 Chinese Grand Prix results:
Winner: Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes
Second Place: George Russell - Mercedes
Third Place: Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari
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