Verstappen aims for pole: 'But then I'll have to skip the second chicane'

For Max Verstappen, the Italian Grand Prix will be a race in which he will have to look back rather than focus on the Mercedes car. Renault is very similar to the straight and Monza consists largely of straights. However, the expectation of the Dutchman is still a podium.

"We are certainly going to try that', said Verstappen in the press conference prior to the Italian Grand Prix, where Formule1.nl is present. "I was very close to a podium in 2018". That podium would be Red Bull's first stage since the introduction of the V6 era. However, due to a time penalty, that party was cancelled. "I have experienced with that", explains the Dutchman.

So a stage seems possible for Verstappen, but the profit seems too far-reaching for Red Bull. "We're just too slow at the moment. We need luck to win races". When looking at the World Championship standings, Verstappen still seems to be in the duel with Lewis Hamilton, but that doesn't say much. "We lose seven points every race, the gap will eventually be too big.

So Mercedes seems far too fast, but that is no reason for Verstappen to let his imagination run wild. During the same press conference, where Motorsport-Total.com is present, let the Dutchman know what his plan is to get in the way of Mercedes. His plan is to take pole position with half a second on Saturday. "Then I will have to skip the second chicane", jokes Verstappen.