Pierre Gasly claimed a surprise Italian Grand Prix pole position while Red Bull driver Max Verstappen qualified sixth following a recurring rear axle failure.
The four-time world champion compared his fragile RB22 machine to paper following the tight Saturday session at Monza. Verstappen stated the team has battled identical rear-end bouncing problems for years without finding a lasting resolution.
“We sometimes have components on the car that either break or get stuck. I’ve had that feeling quite often throughout the season,” Verstappen confirmed.
Driving With Extreme Caution
Knowing his unpredictable car is currently incapable of title contention, the 2025 championship runner-up admitted he is taking fewer risks. He is actively holding back rather than pushing a bouncing setup to the absolute limit in a fight for minor points.
“The team does listen to me and they are also trying to solve it, but at the moment they’re just not succeeding,” he added.
Verstappen stressed that unlike earlier rear wing failures, the Monza issue is not dangerous but simply costs valuable lap time. However, these persistent mechanical faults fuel paddock speculation over his long-term commitment, especially as the sport prepares for the next era of racing.
His teammate Liam Lawson missed out on Q3 after being blocked by Oscar Piastri, further compromising the garage.
Red Bull must now attempt to resolve the setup disconnect before the 53-lap event on Sunday.
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