Verstappen pleased with Monza podium despite deployment issues
Verstappen secures podium at Italian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen secured a P3 finish at the Italian Grand Prix, a result he expressed satisfaction with despite facing significant challenges during the race. The Red Bull driver battled hard throughout the event, ultimately returning to the podium after what he described as a difficult outing.
Starting from fifth on the grid, Verstappen made quick progress in the opening laps, climbing to third position. Following a restart necessitated by a crash involving Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, Verstappen even managed to take the lead briefly. However, he was later overtaken by Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Verstappen’s race saw another surge when he opted for a pit stop under a later Virtual Safety Car phase to switch to fresh tyres. The four-time World Champion engaged in numerous on-track battles, acknowledging that he “had to send it many times around the outside” to maintain his position and fight for a podium spot.
Deployment issues and qualifying struggles
A key factor impacting Verstappen’s performance was a lack of deployment compared to his competitors, particularly on the straights. He explained that this issue “cost us a lot” during the race, making it difficult to defend his position against faster cars. Verstappen noted that once Antonelli and Russell were ahead, he could only maintain his position in Overtake Mode.
The straight-line speed deficit was a recurring theme for Red Bull, with Verstappen stating that top speed “wasn’t our friend” during the event. This made overtaking challenging, forcing him to rely on late braking and aggressive outside moves to regain positions. Despite these difficulties, he was pleased to secure a podium finish, considering the car’s limitations on a track like Monza.
The issues extended beyond the race itself, as Verstappen also encountered problems during qualifying. He called for an investigation into a “peculiar issue” that affected his performance, hindering his ability to compete at the front. After a positive FP3 session where he finished inside the top three, Verstappen slipped to sixth place in Q3.
During qualifying, Verstappen reported a problem with his rear axle, expressing frustration that it occurred at such a critical point in the weekend. He mentioned that this was not the first time such an issue had arisen, describing it as happening at “random times over the weekend.”
Verstappen elaborated on the qualifying difficulties, stating that the car became “super difficult to drive” when these problems emerged. He noted that the car was no longer compliant over bumps and kerbs, which directly impacted his lap times. Despite having a comfortable car in FP3, he unfortunately encountered another problem in qualifying, which he felt made little difference to his result even if his teammate Liam Lawson had been able to provide a tow.
Reflecting on the race battles
Verstappen reflected on the necessity of his aggressive overtakes throughout the race. He explained that being “so slow on the straight” meant his only real chance was to brake late and consistently try to reclaim positions. This strategy proved effective, contributing to his satisfaction with the P3 result.
The 28-year-old driver highlighted the intense battles he was involved in, particularly due to the deployment struggles from turns two to four. He had to make numerous overtakes around the outside, demonstrating his determination to secure a strong finish despite the car’s limitations. Ultimately, Verstappen was happy to be on the podium at the Italian Grand Prix.
He briefly led the race after passing George Russell, only for the Mercedes driver to quickly regain the position. Kimi Antonelli, who started from 19th, also made rapid progress through the field and overtook Verstappen with relative ease, allowing the two Mercedes cars to pull away. Verstappen’s strategic pit stop under the virtual safety car for fresh hard tyres allowed him to climb back from seventh to his eventual third-place finish.
Source: formula1.com
Charlotte Reid 