Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli took to the Monza circuit earlier this week for a high-speed demonstration run. The event took place ahead of the official start of the Italian Grand Prix race weekend.
The two drivers were part of a promotional event for Alfa Romeo. They drove high-performance versions of the brand’s road cars, putting the vehicles through their paces on the historic Italian track.
Footage from the circuit showed Verstappen and the Mercedes driver engaged in a spirited, informal duel. They ran in close proximity along the main straights and through Monza’s famous corners, including the Ascari chicane and the Parabolica.
The demonstration provided a stark contrast to their respective Formula 1 seasons. Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ championship for Mercedes with 242 points, holding a 59-point advantage over his teammate George Russell.
Verstappen, meanwhile, has endured a difficult 2026 campaign with Red Bull. The Dutchman is sixth in the standings and has yet to secure a victory this year, having also recorded four retirements.
The challenges for Red Bull continued into the official practice sessions on Friday. Verstappen finished the second session in ninth position after sitting out the morning’s running for reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa.
He reported significant issues with the balance of his RB22 car. Over the team radio, Verstappen complained about a lack of downforce and a general struggle for grip, stating he was ‘sliding around as if on ice’.
Antonelli, racing in front of his home crowd, finished FP2 in third place, just behind his teammate Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The Italian is facing a grid penalty for the Grand Prix due to the fitment of new power unit components.
During the practice session, Antonelli was observed following Verstappen’s car on track. He later stated it was interesting to see what other cars were doing differently during the long runs, gathering valuable data.
