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Max Verstappen secures Red Bull podium finish at the Monza Grand Prix

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 9:00 AM

Last updated Sep 7, 2026

Max Verstappen secures Red Bull podium finish at the Monza Grand Prix

Summary

Max Verstappen took third place at Monza on Sunday after a difficult start to the race weekend. The Red Bull driver struggled with car balance, braking, and rear grip issues throughout practice, leading him to doubt his competitive prospects for the event. After qualifying sixth and starting fifth, Verstappen moved to the front of the field following the race restart. Despite the team’s progress, persistent electrical deployment weaknesses made it difficult to defend against Mercedes-powered cars on straights. A late-race virtual safety car allowed Verstappen to pit for fresh tires, enabling him to recover his position after a battle with the McLarens to finalize his podium finish. The result marks a recovery for the team following balance challenges encountered at the previous Zandvoort round.

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Status Watch

•Max Verstappen qualified sixth but moved to fifth following a grid penalty for Oscar Piastri.
•Red Bull encountered significant balance and grip issues during practice sessions.
•Verstappen led the race briefly following the restart.
•Electrical deployment deficiencies hindered Red Bull's straight-line speed against Mercedes-powered vehicles.
•Verstappen utilized a virtual safety car pit stop to secure third place.

Latest Updates

9:00 AMYahoo Sports — How Max Verstappen turned Monza nightmare into unlikely Red Bull podium

What they're saying

"
Anyone who spoke to Max Verstappen on Saturday in Monza encountered a driver who was far from satisfied with how his Formula 1 weekend had begun. A day later, he was on the podium anyway, after Red Bull Racing managed to extract more and more from the RB22 over the course of the weekend.
— Yahoo Sports

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