Is an energy disaster looming at Monza? Here’s what F1 superstar Max Verstappen has to say

At Monza, the Formula 1 stars face a particularly tough challenge. This is because the iconic circuit in the Royal Park features long straights and very few corners; hard braking zones, where the battery can be recharged, are few and far between, and so drivers and engineers alike know that energy management will be a particularly crucial issue.

Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen, who has already strongly criticised the new engines and their impact on driving on several occasions, predicts: “It’s going to be really painful, but I don’t want to be too negative about it either. It is what it is; I’ve prepared myself mentally for it too. It’ll be a bit different to what we’re used to, because we can’t just go flat out. You have to be careful with the throttle – that’s what it’ll all come down to.”

Commenting on the fact that those in charge of the sport are trying to make the necessary adjustments, the 28-year-old Dutchman says: “They’re trying to make things a bit better, but ‘better’ doesn’t mean they’re getting it right. We’re a long way from having solved the problem. But of course the FIA and Formula 1 are doing their best to deal with the situation as well as possible.»

“I’m not expecting any miracles here, because on this sort of track, energy management is bound to be a challenge. And the teams around us are currently fitting their engine upgrades to their cars. We were already lagging behind before this. And I don’t think much can be done to change that at the moment. But we can learn more about the car and start looking at what we want to do differently next year,” adds the 71-time Grand Prix winner.

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