Verstappen Faces Tough Sprint from P6 After Bouncing Woes

The title contender, trailing Lando Norris by 24 points, was out-qualified by McLaren’s pole-sitter Oscar Piastri and third-placed Norris, as well as teammate Yuki Tsunoda in fifth – the first time Tsunoda has beaten him in equal machinery this season.

Verstappen’s session included a gravel excursion at Turn 4 in SQ3 after the car grounded, potentially damaging the floor and exacerbating balance issues.

« Bouncing Like an Idiot »

Over team radio and in interviews, Verstappen described the RB21 as « bouncing like an idiot » from the first lap, with aggressive understeer snapping into oversteer at high speed. He explained attempts to adjust via wheel settings failed to resolve the issues, leaving the car « just shit » and locked into a poor setup for the Sprint.

This marked Verstappen’s worst Sprint Qualifying result of 2025, his first time behind a teammate since Sergio Perez in 2024 Azerbaijan.

« With this balance, it will not be a lot of fun… it’s about trying to survive. » — Max Verstappen

Survival Mode for the 19-Lap Sprint

Verstappen tempered expectations for Saturday’s Sprint. He anticipates painful porpoising on Lusail’s abrasive surface, prioritising data collection over points while McLaren’s Piastri and Norris start 1-3. However, Red Bull can make setup changes post-Sprint outside parc ferme, a chance to fix issues before Grand Prix Qualifying.

Tsunoda Outshines Teammate

Yuki Tsunoda’s P5 outperformed Verstappen, showcasing better adaptation to Lusail despite shared setup challenges. Verstappen topped SQ1 but faded as bouncing worsened, while Tsunoda advanced steadily. This result adds pressure on Red Bull’s mechanics to diagnose the aero-ground interaction issues plaguing the RB21.

Title Implications

Norris can clinch the 2025 title in Qatar by outscoring Verstappen by two points across Sprint and Grand Prix. Piastri’s pole hands him Sprint control to close his 24-point deficit to Norris, while Verstappen’s P6 demands a damage-limitation drive to stay in the three-way fight heading to Abu Dhabi.