Drivers

Verstappen blasts Red Bull setup call during 2026 Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying

By Kavi Khandelwal

Max Verstappen arrived at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix race carrying frustrations that had been building all season. By the time qualifying ended, those frustrations were very much public.

The four-time world champion qualified sixth after a session in which his RB22 consistently failed to deliver what he needed. Red Bull had applied a setup configuration to the car — one Verstappen had not supported — but allowed to proceed specifically so the team could reach their own conclusion about whether it would work. It didn’t. “We did something different with my car, that’s what the team wanted,” Verstappen told Dutch media after qualifying. “Clearly, that doesn’t work the way it should. But sometimes you also have to let the team do their thing and make clear that it doesn’t work. I said, ‘Go ahead, if you think this is going to work, then do it.’ And clearly, it doesn’t work.” The frustration in those words is hard to miss. He went further: “I’ve pointed it out so many times already, but sometimes you just have to let them feel for themselves that it doesn’t work.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlGVYWoAc4I&t=72s

It was not a simple setup disagreement. Verstappen described Red Bull as going “in circles” when asked whether the setup changes between Sprint Qualifying and the main session had helped. “You improve the bumps, the kerbs, but then you lose downforce on the car,” he said. “That’s been a bit of an issue in qualifying, plus very confusing straight-line speed.” Over team radio during qualifying, Verstappen’s frustration boiled over more bluntly: “What’s going on with this straight line speed, it’s completely s***.” “A lot of things from this qualifying session are very difficult to understand,” he reflected afterwards. “For example, I have no idea where that final lap suddenly came from.” His diagnosis of the underlying problem was pointed. “The car probably is quite good on smooth tracks. Bumpy tracks are not great yet. I guess the same goes with the power unit. If it works well, it’s not too bad. If you’re a bit out of the window, it’s still a little bit… To optimise it, to make it work, is a small win. Probably a bit sensitive.”

The bigger fight

If the setup row was a local problem, Verstappen’s comments on the 2027 power unit regulations signalled something much larger. He has been one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 power unit concept — a near 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical energy that he has consistently described as unnatural and difficult to enjoy. After Miami, the FIA announced an agreement in principle to shift that balance to 60/40 in favour of combustion from 2027. Verstappen welcomed the news on Thursday in Montreal. “It’s definitely heading into a very positive direction,” he said. “It was like the minimum I was hoping for, and I think it’s really nice that that’s what they want to do. That’s definitely what I think also the sport needs.” But the optimism did not last. In the days following that agreement, several manufacturers backtracked or raised objections over timelines, with some preferring to delay significant changes until 2028 and make only a smaller adjustment next year. Verstappen had clearly been following the politics of the FIA rules changes. “That’s Formula 1 for you. It’s simply like that. It’s a bit of a shame,” he said. “Let’s stay on the positive side. We’re still looking towards making those changes. And of course, some people that at the moment maybe have a bit of an advantage will try to be difficult about it.” The implication was clear. Manufacturers who currently benefit from the electric-heavy architecture have little incentive to push for change. Verstappen is not interested in waiting for consensus that may never come. “If it stays like this, it’s going to be a long year next year, which I don’t want,” he said after qualifying. Asked whether he would consider a sabbatical and return for 2028 if the changes were pushed back, his answer was short: “No. There’s a lot of other fun things out there.” After finishing third on Sunday — Red Bull’s first podium of 2026 — Verstappen was asked by Sky Sports what level of change he needed from the 2027 regulations. His answer: “The minimum that they’re trying to get to for next year. That’s the minimum.” When asked to confirm the 60/40 split was the absolute floor, he replied simply: “Yes.” He also framed it in terms of what racing is supposed to feel like. “I know how pure other motorsports can feel like. So then when you come back to this it’s just not very nice. I really hope that next year we can get that 60/40, because that would naturally help everything a bit.” Montreal gave Verstappen a podium but not many answers. The setup disagreement with Red Bull may be resolved before the next race. The regulatory battle, with multiple manufacturers pulling in different directions, will take considerably longer — and Verstappen has made plain that his patience has limits.