Red Bull clarifies Max Verstappen's 'broken again' radio message

Max Verstappen's radio message at the Italian Grand Prix that his RB22's rear axle was "broken again" raised eyebrows, but Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has clarified it was not a literal failure. Instead, it referred to the car's degrading ride performance, a persistent issue that has bothered Verstappen for some time.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's ability to manage the RB22's weaknesses could be pivotal in a tight championship fight. Verstappen's complaints about ride quality are not new, and if the team cannot deliver a more consistent car over a race weekend, it could cost them valuable points against rivals like McLaren and Ferrari.

The details:

• Mekies, speaking to Sky Sports F1, confirmed the team is aware of the problem: "We know there are a few parameters on this car that we are not happy with, especially in terms of how they evolve through a session or a race."
• The issue is described as a "degradation of performance" rather than a broken component, which is an important distinction for the team's engineers.
• Verstappen has been vocal about this for a while, and Mekies acknowledged: "We know he has been complaining about that for quite a bit of time now."
• Red Bull is now focused on finding a more permanent fix, with Mekies adding: "It's something on which we will try to find a more definite fix for the future."
• RacingNews365's deeper analysis points to a design flaw that may be causing the ride performance to drop off during stints, affecting the car's balance and Verstappen's confidence.

What's next:

With the season heading into its final stretch, Red Bull will need to address this issue quickly. The team hopes to introduce improvements that provide Verstappen with a more stable platform, but the immediate focus is on maximizing results with the current package. If a solution can be found, it could unlock more consistent pace from both car and driver.