Max Verstappen said "every lap is survival" after his difficult start to the Formula One season continued in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday.

After spinning out in qualifying and only finishing sixth in Australia last week, four-time champion Verstappen could only guide his Red Bull to eighth in China, where 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter.

The Dutchman has been highly critical of F1's direction following the regulation changes implemented for this season, and he was downbeat again after his latest performance.

"[The car was] incredibly tough to drive. There's no balance," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. "I cannot lean on the car. Every lap is a fight. It's just very difficult.

"Every time I did another lap on a tyre set, it felt awful. I honestly think it will be quite tough [on Sunday].

"In the past, sometimes we threw it [the car] upside down and it worked. Now, nothing works. It's just not nice. I cannot push. Every lap is survival for me.

"We are probably fighting a bit with Pierre [Gasly, who qualified seventh]. But, that's it. Not more in it."

Tomorrow's about the bounce-back #F1 || #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/yAYxdcpPY1

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 14, 2026

Verstappen was also frustrated after the earlier 19-lap Sprint, which saw him lose seven places on the opening lap and finish outside the points in ninth.

"I have not a lot of words at the moment. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong," said Verstappen.

"The start is one problem we have to fix. After that, the balance is all over the place.

"Probably the highest degradation of everyone out there, which is uncontrollable, plus some other bits on the car that were not well prepared.

"We need to get our stuff together."