Max Verstappen secured a third-place finish at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, despite facing significant challenges with his Red Bull RB22. The Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell claimed first and second positions, respectively.
Verstappen briefly led the race following an early red flag, which was deployed after Charles Leclerc crashed. However, the four-time world champion encountered persistent issues throughout the event.
Post-race, Verstappen expressed frustration with the car’s performance, specifically highlighting a lack of deployment on the straights. He stated that this deficiency ‘cost us a lot’ on a high-speed circuit like Monza.
The Dutchman also pointed to ongoing rear axle problems with the RB22, which had compromised his qualifying session. He described the car as being ‘made out of paper’ due to recurring component failures affecting its ride compliance.
Verstappen further noted the difficulties presented by the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, particularly the 50/50 electric-ICE split. He indicated that this setup hampered energy harvesting, creating a challenging scenario at Monza.
A Virtual Safety Car period prompted a pit stop for Verstappen on lap 28. While he initially questioned the timing over team radio, he later conveyed an understanding of the team’s strategic decision.
The Monza circuit itself underwent nine modifications for the 2026 Grand Prix, including asphalt repairs at Turn 2. Verstappen reported a moment during the race where the track surface at Turn 2 began to break apart, nearly causing him to slide off.
Despite these setbacks, Verstappen engaged in multiple battles and executed several overtakes to secure his podium position. This result marked his fifth podium finish of the current 2026 campaign.
However, the performance gap to the Mercedes cars was evident, with Verstappen finishing over ten seconds behind Russell. He currently remains in sixth place in the championship standings, significantly adrift of the lead.
