Verstappen’s Frustration: ‘Paper‑Thin’ Car Sparks Tense Radio Exchange at Monza

Saturday’s qualifying at Monza turned into a minor drama for Red Bull, not because of a crash or a penalty, but because of a rather candid radio exchange between the team’s lead driver and its boss.

Max Verstappen, the four‑time world champion, started the day looking solid. He topped the third free‑practice session, sitting just three‑tenths of a second behind George Russell. In the first two qualifying blocks he seemed on course for a strong grid position, and many fans expected the Dutchman to fight for a podium place.

But things unraveled in Q3. On his final flying lap the Red Bull RB22 simply didn’t respond the way Verstappen needed. The car shuffled off the line, limped through the high‑speed corners and, despite a respectable overall pace, he could only manage sixth place. Afterwards he pointed the finger at a sudden rear‑axle problem that, according to him, cost him at least two‑tenths of a second.

Shortly after the session ended, team principal Laurent Mekies took to the team radio. “Sorry Max for the last run, a mess. Pace was much better overall, but it’s frustrating. Still an improvement on yesterday, well done,” he said, trying to calm the situation.

Verstappen’s reply was unmistakably annoyed: “I mean, it’s better, but this car is made out of paper.” The comment, delivered in his trademark direct style, instantly went viral on social media, sparking a flurry of memes and heated discussions among F1 fans.

In a post‑qualifying interview Verstappen elaborated on the issue. He explained that the rear‑axle glitch made the chassis “super difficult to drive” over the notorious Monza bumps and curbs. “It’s not the first time this has happened, but it came at the most crucial moment of the weekend,” he told RN365. “When the car isn’t compliant over the bumps, you lose precious lap time.”

Despite the setback, Verstappen admitted that his FP3 run felt comfortable – “for once the car was easy to drive.” Yet the lack of any substantive setup changes between FP3 and qualifying left him puzzled about why the problem resurfaced just when a pole‑position fight was at stake.

Red Bull has yet to comment publicly on the rear‑axle concern, but the episode underscores how even a seemingly minor component can wreak havoc on a driver’s confidence, especially in a track as unforgiving as Monza.

As the Italian Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on the team to see whether they can sort the issue before the race, and whether Verstappen will be able to extract the performance he knows the RB22 is capable of when it’s not “made out of paper.”