Untelevised Max Verstappen team radio emerges after Italian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen secured a third-place finish at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, marking his third podium in four races. Despite briefly leading the race, he ultimately finished 11 seconds behind George Russell, highlighting Red Bull's struggles with straight-line speed and issues with the car's rear axle during the race. Verstappen's performance came after a challenging weekend at Zandvoort, where he retired early due to a mistake.

In a post-race exchange, Red Bull's Laurent Mekies noted a significant improvement in race pace, but Verstappen pointed out the team's ongoing weaknesses. He expressed frustration over the difficulties faced against the Mercedes cars, particularly in terms of defending his position. The team is aware of the areas needing improvement as they look to enhance their performance in future races.