Verstappen struggled with balance: 'Don't think we can challenge Mercedes'

It doesn't look like Max Verstappen can repeat his dominant weekend at Zandvoort in Monza. The Mercedes car seems to be too fast on the Italian circuit. The Dutchman is satisfied with his third place.

"It wasn't the best qualifying, but somehow this is not our best track because of the long straights, because you try to trim it with the downforce. Third place is good. I was quite happy when I heard I was third," Verstappen told the Sky Sports camera.

According to the Dutchman, he got everything out of the car and there was no more in it. "In Q1 we were struggling with the balance. So it would have been unrealistic to hope for more. We might get a bit closer, but I don't think we can challenge them."

The race can still change a lot

Tomorrow's race is still scheduled for the sprint race which will determine the grid for Sunday's race. "You don't know what can happen in a race, so we're just trying to keep the pressure on. We'll see. A lot can happen before that race. It's not like Zandvoort where we were really fast," Verstappen said.