Verstappen Criticizes Red Bull’s Power Deficit in Italian GP Final Practice

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Max Verstappen openly expressed his frustration with the performance of his Red Bull car during the final practice session for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, describing its power output as being “less than a Fiat Punto.” The comment came amid his struggles to maintain competitive straight-line speed on the high-speed straights of Monza, forcing him to rely heavily on the slipstream of other cars to reach competitive top speeds.

Throughout the session, Verstappen repeatedly communicated to his team that his car lacked the necessary power to perform effectively when running alone. Early in the session, he remarked that driving without a tow was “just slow driving by yourself.” Later, after another run, he told race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, “I need the tow. You can see the difference again, this is slow.” At one point, he added, “I have no power in the laps. I can’t even stay close.” These statements highlighted his clear dissatisfaction with the car’s straight-line speed, a critical factor at the Monza circuit where long straights dominate the lap.

Verstappen’s top speed during the session peaked at 331 kph as he passed the pit straight, but like many of the current generation of F1 cars, his velocity dropped off significantly before reaching the braking zone for the first corner. Despite these challenges, he managed to finish the session third-fastest behind George Russell’s Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, underscoring his ability to extract performance despite the power deficit. His teammate Liam Lawson was notably slower, ending the session 12th and six-tenths of a second behind Verstappen [1].

The power concerns raised by Verstappen come at a time when Red Bull is under pressure to maintain its competitive edge in the championship. The team has faced internal upheaval with key personnel departures and restructuring, which some observers suggest has affected car development and overall performance. Verstappen’s blunt assessment of the car’s power deficit reflects the ongoing challenges Red Bull faces in adapting to the evolving technical regulations and the competitive landscape this season.

Verstappen’s comments also sparked discussion about his approach to practice sessions. Historically, he has been known to voice frustrations during practice but then deliver strong qualifying and race performances. Some analysts suggest that his candid remarks during practice could be a way to manage expectations or motivate the team to find improvements before the crucial qualifying runs.

Looking ahead, the Italian Grand Prix weekend will test Red Bull’s ability to address the power shortfall and optimize their car’s performance for race day. Verstappen’s reliance on slipstreaming to gain speed on the straights may influence race strategy, particularly in a race where overtaking opportunities and top speed are vital. How Red Bull responds to these challenges could have significant implications for the championship battle as the season progresses [1].