Mercedes lead the charge into Japan as Verstappen and Red Bull scramble to fix their troubled start under F1’s new 2026 regulations.
SUZUKA: Max Verstappen’s bid for a fifth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix victory faces a severe threat from a dominant Mercedes team this weekend.
The Red Bull driver’s early season struggles under Formula One’s sweeping new technical regulations stand in stark contrast to Mercedes’ flawless start.
George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli have secured one-two finishes in both the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix so far.
Championship leader Russell triumphed in Melbourne, while 19-year-old Antonelli claimed a breakthrough maiden victory in Shanghai.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, has endured a disastrous opening to the campaign.
He finished sixth in Australia after a qualifying crash and retired from the main race in China due to a cooling issue.
The Dutchman has been vocal in his criticism of the 2026 rules, branding them “anti-racing”.
He likened the new electrical boost and overtake modes to the Mario Kart video game.
“Getting on top of our problems is not easy,” Verstappen said in Shanghai.
“It would help if we would just have a normal start — I’ve been every time dropping to last.”
His problems suggest his four-year unbeaten streak at the Suzuka circuit could end on Sunday.
Mercedes will target their first win at the track since Valtteri Bottas’ victory in 2019.
Antonelli, who became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history in China, said his win had “removed a bit of weight from my shoulders”.
“It’s the kind of result which gives you strength and more awareness of what you can do.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are seen as their nearest challengers.
Meanwhile, McLaren is also scrambling alongside Red Bull after a nightmare start.
Defending champion Lando Norris, who is 36 points behind Russell, complained his car “sucks”.
His teammate Oscar Piastri is yet to start a grand prix this season due to technical failures.
“We just have to take it on the chin, learn what the problem was and make sure it never happens again,” Norris said.
“All of us want to go racing and score points.”
The teams will have a five-week break after Suzuka until the Miami Grand Prix.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races were cancelled earlier this season due to the war in the Middle East.
