Max Verstappen Admits Mercedes to be Clear Favorites at Monza

Max Verstappen Admits Mercedes to be Clear Favorites at Monza

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen and Red Bull have been on top of their game ever since the summer break ended, manging to register 2 wins out of 2 so far. But ahead of the start of the Italian Grand Prix, ace driver Max Versatppen feels that Mercedes are the clear favorites to win at Monza and hopes that the team could pull off an upset against all odds to improve their claim in the constructor’s standings. 

There is no denying that Honda’s power units and engine have been a huge boost for Red Bull and particularly Max Verstappen. Yet Mercedes remain in the hunt to beat any given team. Knowing that on tracks where horsepower can be the king, Mercedes will be aware of their advantage at Monza.  

What was Opinionated by Max Verstappen? 

Max Verstappen wins Dutch GP
Max Verstappen wins Dutch GP

“On paper, this is the most difficult race for us, but we will see. It is difficult to say how we will do. I do not expect it to be a weekend like in Zandvoort, but hopefully we will be close,” Max Verstappen told media as quoted by RacingNews365.com. 

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Red Bull's Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen

“Sometimes it’s very close to each other. Sometimes we are in front and sometimes Mercedes are in front of us. This weekend has never been very good for us. I think it will get better with the car and the engine we have. But I expect Mercedes to do very well.” 

Mercedes have won five of the last seven Italian Grands Prix, with Lewis Hamilton en route to victory last year, too, until a time penalty cost him the win. As Monza demands all-out horsepower in the high-speed sweeps through the forest, the only consideration for downforce is to put just enough on to allow the drivers to get through the chicanes, the Lesmos, Ascari and the newly renamed Curva Alboreto. 

F1 Warns Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen

He concluded, “The braking gets harder, and so does the traction through the bumps. The track looks fairly simple in layout, but it’s not easy to get everything out in one lap here, through the slipstreams and warming up the tyres. For a top lap, everything really has to come together. 

“This is not our best track, but that also has to do with the top speed. I think it will be better than other years, but it won’t be like in Zandvoort where we were in front of the Mercedes.”

Also Read: “Otherwise Mercedes Will Run Away”: Max Verstappen Warned Red Bull

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