Max Verstappen has bemoaned changes made to his Red Bull car after finishing sixth during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 26-year-old has struggled in recent weeks, with his issues continuing ahead of the main event on Sunday.
Verstappen was outperformed by Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez for the first time this season.
And the Dutchman has now bemoaned changes made to his RB20 vehicle.
Max Verstappen has bemoaned changes made to his Red Bull car after finishing sixth during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday.
REUTERS
"I already knew after the first run in Q1 that it was going to be difficult," he told Viaplay.
"A few things had changed on the car and that made it very difficult. A lot of bouncing at the back, so every time entering and exiting the corner the car bounced really badly.
"That just made it very difficult. Q2 then still went reasonably well in itself, but for me, in the car, it already just didn't feel right.
"I couldn't optimise in the middle of the corner. I also had a bit too much understeer, which you don't want on a street circuit."
Verstappen then proceeded to continue criticising the car, while describing the day as a 'bummer'.
"Q3 had to be better of course, but in that first run I obviously had that little mistake at the last corner," he added.
"That's where the car went the wrong way. In the run after that, I had a lot of bouncing again.
"And then if you're not completely comfortable with that, you can't attack.
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"We adjusted some things and then of course you know where it comes from.
"It's a bummer. Of course you always try to make the best of it. It's not that I then sit dejected in the car or anything, but I knew it was going to be difficult."
Red Bull chief Christian Horner has also reacted to qualifying.
The Briton has admitted the team need to investigate Verstappen's complaints, though insisted he wasn't concerned ahead of tomorrow's race.
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Max Verstappen was left frustrated after finishing sixth in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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"It was just a scrappy Q3," he said.
"The balance of the car actually seemed pretty good in Q2. The balance of the car actually in Q2 seemed to be pretty good. Max was pretty happy with it.
"And unfortunately, he just wasn't there on those last two sets of tyres. So we need to look at why."
He added: "It's a track that you can overtake at. So those grid positions aren't disastrous.
Christian Horner has revealed Red Bull will investigate after Max Verstappen's problems in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
REUTERS
"I don't think we've ever had a pole position here.
"So unfortunately today we haven't broken that record either."
Charles Leclerc will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the front of the grid after securing pole, with Oscar Piastri in second and Carlos Sainz Jr in third.
