Max Verstappen believes a rear-end problem on his Red Bull RB22 cost him at least two tenths of a second in Italian Grand Prix qualifying, potentially denying him the chance to fight Pierre Gasly and George Russell for the front row at Monza. Red Bull must now determine whether it will be permitted to address the issue under parc fermé conditions without forcing Max Verstappen to start from the pit lane.
Max Verstappen qualified sixth in Q3 but will move up one place to fifth on Sunday’s grid after Oscar Piastri received a three-place penalty for impeding Liam Lawson. The Dutchman will therefore start from the third row, although he was more disappointed than on several previous occasions because his feeling with the Red Bull RB22 had been considerably better.
Max Verstappen says RB22 rear problem cost two tenths
“Yes, it’s a shame,” Max Verstappen admitted while speaking to Viaplay. “I had a better feeling in FP3, but just as I was about to go out, we saw that there was something wrong with the car. It’s happened often this season: we run into problems during a session or between sessions when something breaks. Every time it’s something different. That was the problem in qualifying as well.”
Max Verstappen then clarified that the specific issue was related to the rear axle of his car.
“If we didn’t have these problems at the rear, where something isn’t right, then things would actually look pretty good,” the four-time world champion explained. “I think we’re losing at least two tenths because of this rear-end problem.”
If Max Verstappen’s estimate is accurate, recovering two tenths would have put him much closer to the battle for the front row between Pierre Gasly and George Russell. It also adds another frustrating chapter to a season in which Max Verstappen has repeatedly encountered difficulties extracting the RB22’s full potential.
Can Red Bull repair Max Verstappen’s car without a penalty?
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen also raised the possibility that Red Bull could make changes to the car in an attempt to resolve the problem.
Under Formula 1’s parc fermé regulations, teams cannot freely alter a car after qualifying. However, repairs or replacement of broken or damaged components can be permitted in specific circumstances, provided the relevant FIA requirements are satisfied.
A more drastic option would be for Red Bull to make changes outside what is permitted under parc fermé and accept a pit-lane start. Max Verstappen, however, does not yet know whether that will be necessary.
“I don’t know whether we’re allowed to change anything on the car,” the Red Bull driver said. “Sometimes, if something is broken, you get permission to change it, but other times you don’t. It depends. If it stays like this, it will be a difficult race. We would have much more potential, but if we’re not allowed to work on it…”
Italian GP grid penalty moves Max Verstappen up to fifth
Whatever Red Bull decides, Max Verstappen will at least gain one position before the start. Oscar Piastri originally qualified third but was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson during qualifying, moving the Red Bull driver from sixth to fifth.
That leaves Max Verstappen on the third row for the Italian Grand Prix, with Pierre Gasly on pole ahead of George Russell. The race now depends partly on whether Red Bull can resolve the rear-end issue that compromised qualifying or whether Max Verstappen will have to manage the same limitation over a full race distance.
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