Max Verstappen’s struggles could worsen unless he delivers a strong F1 Japanese Grand Prix, it has been suggested.

The third round of the 2025 F1 season is next weekend at Suzuka, a circuit which Red Bull have often enjoyed.

Sebastian Vettel won in Japan four times before 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Verstappen triumphed three tim🧸es in Red Bull’s separate dominant periods.

But they head to Su🦂zuka next weekend in drab form, unable to keep pace with McLaren who claimed their constructꦓors’ championship last year.

Liam Lawson ha💫s been replaced as Verstappeꦦn's teammate by Yuki Tsunoda.

McLaren have won in Australia through Lando Norris and in China through Oscar Piastri, and they sit top of the constructors’ again. Norris leads Verstappen in the drive🐟rs’, worryingly for Red Bull.

“⭕Suzuka will be crucial. Traditionally the car is aero-efficꦚient,” F1 Nation podcast Tom Clarkson said.

Alex Jacques reꦚplied: “It’s a huge test because if they’re not good there, you start looking around the calendar and saying ‘wow’.

“It’s strange ☂because he kept himself afloat last year.”

Verstappen trails Norris by eight points in the drivers’ standings. He finished fourth in China by overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was carrying dam🐟age, in the fi🍌nal exchanges.

“I think he is performing wonders with what car,” Jacques said abo🍌ut the F1 champiﷺon.

“To be within two hundredths of a second from sprint pole was ludicrous. Watch the onboard, he ﷽is hacking away at the steering wheel like an axe chopping at a tree.

“He is having to use all of his brilliance ⛄to get to fourth in a grand prix.

“It took him 20-odd laps until he looked like Max Verstappen. He has to be patient, use everything that he has learned in his ಌcareer, to finish fourth.

“✨They have to study the data and decide on a development direction.

“I think the Ferrari has a really narrow operating window, but the Red Bull is the fourth-faജstest car.ꦕ”

'Lack of confidence' at Red Bull

Laura Winter added: “He overtook Leclerc who was without an end-plate, and with 20-30 poin꧃ts less of downfo💖rce.

“It was such a subdued performa🐭nce from Red B🐻ull. Gianpiero Lambiase was having to gee him up, saying ‘we can do this’.

“GP encourages Max with an air o𒅌f dom🐭inance, never for P4 or P5.

“There was a difference in how they approached the rac꧃e. There is clearly a lacking of confidence in the car.”

Verstappen is seeking a fifth consecutive drivers’ title this year but looks 🐲likely to have sterne♒r competition than ever.

In ❀2026, the new F1 regulations will create a clean playiꦗng field for any team to establish a new era of dominance.

Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has been up for debate, a💦s a result.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown cheekily claime☂d he thinks Verstappen will join Mercedes.

But, Verstappen shrugged off ꦇquestions about quitting Red Bull last weekend in China.

He will hope their car finds performance as the season goes on, knowing he can’t afford ꧑to let Norris’ lead at the top of the drivers’ standings grow too much.