Red Bull RB22: Why the former 'monster' is now lagging behind even its customer team?

Monza, September 4, 2026 – A shocking sight appeared on the timing screens during FP2 at the high-speed Monza circuit: both Red Bull RB22s were behind Racing Bulls and Haas. Not just one, but both drivers of the top team, including reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa, confirmed the same issue: the car felt 'disconnected' at high speed. This is no longer an isolated incident. The context of a difficult weekend began with the FIA's mandatory rookie practice rule. Verstappen had to give up his car to Iwasa for FP1. When the main driver only has FP2 to diagnose and FP3 to confirm a solution, the pressure on the team is immense. However, that is only part of the story. The crux lies in the admission by Technical Director Pierre Wache. He candidly stated that the RB22's problem is 'a little bit like Zandvoort' but 'more fundamental', and it cannot be solved by just changing the front wing or a minor component. Wache said the team needs to 'make some choices between different components that we have since a few races' – a sign of development indecision. Both Verstappen, with his 'long list of complaints' about brakes, rear downforce, and bouncing, and Iwasa, with his feeling of a 'disconnected car balance' at high speed, point to a structural flaw in the chassis, not an operational error. Data analysis from the practice session itself shows the problem lies in the aerodynamic instability of the ground effect. At high speed, the airflow through the Venturi tunnels detaches, causing a sudden loss of downforce – a phenomenon that haunted Mercedes during 2026-2026. Additionally, the energy management issue detected early by Iwasa in FP1, if not addressed promptly, would be a major disadvantage at a track where 80% of the lap is at full throttle. Many might think that finishing behind the customer team Racing Bulls is just a practice session coincidence. But the harsh truth is that this reflects a systemic problem. When the customer team, using the same power unit, is faster than the works team, it is the clearest evidence that the RB22 has a chassis-level flaw. This lag is not just a missed beat but a sign of a negative development spiral. The truth is, Red Bull is facing a conceptual problem, not a setup error. Wache's public admission that he is 'never confident' is an unusual signal compared to the usual optimism in top team statements. It shows that even those at the helm have not found a solution. With only FP3 left to test options, it is highly likely Red Bull will have to accept a compromised result at Monza, and further, a tough fight for the rest of the season. If this problem persists, the question is not just whether Red Bull can win at Monza, but whether they remain a championship contender at all. The answer will begin to unfold in Saturday's qualifying session.