Max Verstappen completed on the rostrum in Monza after ranging from fifth on the grid, saying he struggled with deployment in his Pink Bull.
Max Verstappen has recognized deployment and high pace as struggles in Monza. He misplaced out to Mercedes, admitting he “tried to hold in there” however finally couldn’t match their tempo.
The Dutchman briefly led the Italian Grand Prix early on after passing Hamilton, Leclerc, Gasly, and Russell – the latter shortly getting forward of Verstappen once more.
Eventual race winner Kimi Antonelli began in the back of the grid, however didn’t take lengthy to catch as much as the Russell-Verstappen battle earlier than each Mercedes pulled away from the Pink Bull.
Max Verstappen missing pace?
Verstappen then pitted underneath a digital security automotive introduced out by Lance Stroll’s mid-race retirement, placing on new onerous tyres and dealing his means as much as third by the top of the race.
The four-time world champion revealed why he didn’t make up as a lot floor as Antonelli after they each stopped, confirming a pace subject together with his RB22.
“There have been some good battles on the market,” Verstappen mentioned after the race.
“I needed to ship it many instances across the outdoors as a result of we had been simply struggling quite a bit with deployment from turns two to 4 in comparison with our rivals.
“Typically high pace wasn’t our good friend at the moment so simply tried to hold in there however they had been only a bit too quick.
“That’s why I used to be making an attempt to be in that overtake mode however at one level I misplaced that and tried to simply do my very own race. Pleased with P3 and to be on the rostrum right here.”
Verstappen took the chequered flag over 10 seconds behind Russell in P2, nevertheless nonetheless 5 seconds away from Norris in P4 who got here out on high of a late battle with teammate Piastri.
Though not a victory, it marks the closest Verstappen has been to the Silver Arrows in 2026.
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