Max ahead of Monza: 'Not expecting miracles'

Published on 03 September 2026 by Stefan Meens

Formula 1 is back and this upcoming weekend, the 11 teams and 22 drivers will take to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.

After several races where energy management played a lesser role, this weekend’s Grand Prix at Monza, the Temple of Speed, will see the topic firmly back on the agenda. Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen gave his take on the situation: “It’s going to be really painful. The cars are simply inefficient for Monza. But there’s not much point in staying negative. It is what it is and I have prepared myself mentally for it. I know this weekend will be different then what we were used to.”

For the drivers it means they cannot be on the limit for the duration of the lap. “You have to keep an eye on how much energy you are using and make sure you don’t push all the time. We have to be careful with the throttle”, explains Max.

The adjustments to the power unit regulations will not lead to a quick solution as the problem extends beyond highspeed tracks. “On regular tracks changes are made to improve the situation but that doesn’t mean the problem is solved. We are not where we want it to be, but Formula 1 and the FIA are trying everything to get a handle on the situation.

Remaining realistic, Max does not expect that Red Bull will suddenly leap forward. “On inefficient tracks, we just struggle to maximise what we have. I’m not expecting any miracles here and it will be a challenging weekend yet again. The frontrunning teams are bringing upgrades, so they’ll improve. We were already behind them so there’s no reason to expect that the pecking order will be completely different. We have to remain realistic and get to know the car better, so we know what way to go next year.”