At the 2026 Formula 1 Aramco Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, Red Bull's Max Verstappen found himself in a position he hasn't been accustomed to in his illustrious F1 career: 8th place. His finish at Suzuka was the third installment in a troubling pattern so far in 2026, as Verstappen, 28, retired in sixth at the Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix and finished 16th at the Heineken Chinese Grand Prix earlier this month (via ESPN ). Verstappen won four straight F1 Drivers' World Championships