Max Verstappen secures podium finish at Italian Grand Prix
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 11:30 AM
Last updated Sep 7, 2026

Max Verstappen finished third at the Italian Grand Prix after starting from fifth on the grid. The Red Bull driver struggled with straight-line speed against Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, comparing his pace to a turtle during the race. Despite the deficit on the straights, Verstappen utilized the braking performance of his RB22 to regain positions. He successfully attacked in the braking zones, finding opportunities to pass at Turn 4 during both starts. The podium result capped a challenging weekend for the four-time world champion as he managed to maximize his car's performance against the faster Mercedes vehicles.
- •Max Verstappen finished third at the Italian Grand Prix.
- •Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell maintained superior speed on straights.
- •Verstappen started the race from fifth position.
- •The RB22 showed strong performance in braking zones.
- •Turn 4 served as a primary overtaking point for Verstappen.
- 11:30 AMYahoo Sports — Verstappen compares himself to ‘turtle’ but finds Mercedes weakness
"Max Verstappen said he felt like a ‘turtle’ at times during the Italian Grand Prix. Despite briefly leading the race, the Dutchman saw the Mercedes cars fly past him with much more speed on Monza’s straights.
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