Motorsport photoFilip CleerenFri, November 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM UTC·7 min readReigning world champion Max Verstappen fears Saturday's sprint race in Qatar will be about "trying to survive" after going with the wrong set-up direction on his Red Bull.
In qualifying Verstappen started reporting crippling bouncing issues through the second sprint qualifying segment on the medium tyres, and in the final shoot-out on softs those woes appeared to only get worse.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHaving understeered off the high-downforce Losail track on his first flying lap, Verstappen only managed sixth on his second attempt, qualifying behind team-mate Yuki Tsunoda for the first time and being nearly half a second adrift of sprint polesitter Oscar Piastri in the McLaren.
"Not good from the first lap, just a really bad bouncing and a very aggressive understeer that would shift into oversteer in high speed," four-time world champion Verstappen said. "So not what you want to go fast. Then you're locked in and we tried to, of course, change a few things on the wheel, but it never really worked. So that made it quite tricky."
As teams cannot make set-up changes before Saturday afternoon's 19-lap sprint under parc ferme rules, Verstappen believes all he will be able to do is just to hang on and bring the car home where he qualified.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"With this balance tomorrow in the sprint, it will not be a lot of fun," he said. "So it will be more about just trying to survive, I guess, and then make some changes going into qualifying."
With Verstappen trailing championship leader Lando Norris by 24 points and being level with sprint polesitter Piastri, not being able to gain positions from sixth on the grid would be a dent to Verstappen's long-shot title hopes, even if F1's sprint races only pay one point per position in the top eight.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingAccording to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, Verstappen's main problem was that the set-up direction his side of the garage chose didn't work out on the soft tyres, although the Dutchman's initial struggles on the mediums partially contradict that theory.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We didn't have bouncing on the medium tyre, so we have to find the reason why it happened," Marko said, before going into more detail with Austrian broadcaster ORF.
"We have a problem with the soft tyres. On the medium we were in the game, but on the soft tyre – don’t ask," Marko added.
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"I honestly can’t even remember the last time a team-mate beat Max. And Yuki alone lost a tenth in Turn 1. So for Max, the changes were certainly no advantage when it came to soft tyre performance.
"They have two different approaches. Yuki needs a stable rear-end. Max needs a sharp front-end that really bites. And the changes were made in that direction. And apparently it worked better for Yuki than it did for Max.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Thank God it’s only the sprint. The main thing is that we can sort it out somehow for the main race."
Additional reporting by Ronald Vording
Photos from Qatar GP - Sprint Qualifying
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, WilliamsLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, WilliamsAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Rio Ferdinand arrives in the Paddock
Rio Ferdinand arrives in the PaddockSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementZak Brown, McLaren
Zak Brown, McLarenSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamGuido De Bortoli
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 walks in the Paddock
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLiam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamLance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariGuido De Bortoli
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberGuido De Bortoli
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Paul Aron, Alpine F1
Paul Aron, Alpine F1Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
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