Verstappen confused by 'bizarre' Red Bull behaviour in disastrous Monza qualifying

Max Verstappen was left confused at the "bizarre"behaviour of his Red Bull in Italian Grand Prix qualifying, that left him only eighth on the grid. 

As Red Bull continues to struggle to unlock performance from its RB20, the machine was a struggle for Verstappen and Sergio Perez, as they could only manage seventh and eighth on the grid, nearly seven-tenths slower than pole-sitter Lando Norris. 

Replays showed Verstappen struggling to turn the car throughout the session, including at the Parabolica as he laboured to the fourth row, handing Norris the chance to eat into the 70-point championship lead he currently holds. 

Team boss Christian Horner spoke of a "fundamental" problem with the car when using its tyres, something Verstappen labelled as "bizarre."

"In Q3, somehow it didn't turn. We had two new sets of tyres and suddenly I had a lot of understeer," he told Viaplay. 

"The car just wasn't turning anywhere anymore in Turns 1, 4, 6 and 7. I just couldn't get the car turning anymore.

"It's been going on all the time. It's over and understeer, both actually a little bit. It's very tricky.

"I was almost four-tenths slower than my run in Q2. It's bizarre how that's possible. The balance was suddenly not there at all.

"In Q2 it was still reasonable but it felt a little better, but in Q3 there was suddenly a lot of understeer and nothing worked anymore."

Looking ahead to the Italian GP

"The long run wasn't really very great either, so we'll see. Now we are at the back of the pack, we are going to do our best.

Reflecting on the opportunity now handed to Norris to eat into the points lead he holds, Verstappen was sanguine. 

"We all have ourselves to thank for that," he said. 

"Normally, of course, you just always make strides [forward].

"At Monza that might be slightly smaller, but from Turn 1 it just didn't turn anymore.

"The long run wasn't really very great either, so we'll see. Now we are at the back of the pack, we are going to do our best."