Max Verstappen warned that the RB22’s lack of structural stability would hinder the Red Bull team in Monza’s qualifying session.
RB22’s shaky balance spoils Saturday’s hopes
After a turbulent Friday practice, Verstappen flagged a “disconnect” in the car’s balance, shaping a difficult day on track.
During Saturday’s final lap, the Dutchman paced the third–fastest car but still trailed Pierre Gasly by nearly three‑tenths of a second.
He later called the RB22 “made of paper” in a radio exchange that was promptly turned into a social‑media gag.
‘Bouncing’ rear components explain the loss of lap time
Speaking to Dutch media, Verstappen explained that faulty rear parts had rendered the machine unable to absorb bumps and kerbs.
He said the car “now bounces a lot more”, depriving him of essential round‑off that’s critical on a high‑speed circuit.
Verstappen singled out the rear of the RB22 as the problem area, admitting he could not identify the exact component but that it is “not good enough” to endure a full race weekend.
Red Bull grapples with persistent reliability issues
Despite new chassis regulations for 2026, the driver noted that similar setbacks have haunted the team for years.
He sees the engineers as listening but not yet succeeding, noting that some circuits – like Zandvoort – diminish the problem as fewer kerb impacts occur.
Verstappen added that he sometimes must lift back limits during a race, a strategic concession not seen in previous seasons.
Race day still uncertain as car degradation looms
Verstappen said he remains less aggressive, citing the RB22’s degradation as a concern for Sunday’s start.
He highlighted how an unreliable slipstream plan caused Liam Lawson to miss Q3, illustrating broader technical turbulence.
As Red Bull mobilizes resources to remedy the rear instability, the driver remains skeptical that the car will feel as capable as it did in practice.
In a cautious tone, Verstappen finished by saying, “If they can fix it tomorrow and the car feels like it did in third practice, then I’ll try to stay with the front‑line pack.”
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