Verstappen happy with podium in Italian Grand Prix as he details issue that ‘cost us a lot’

Max Verstappen was pleased to come away from the Italian Grand Prix with a podium finish in P3, having conceded after the race that a lack of deployment in comparison to other cars “cost us a lot”.

Starting from fifth on the grid, Verstappen had climbed up to third in the opening laps – and when the event was restarted following a crash for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the Dutchman even moved up into the lead at one stage.

While he was eventually overtaken by the Mercedes cars of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, there was another charge for Verstappen when he pitted for fresh tyres under a later Virtual Safety Car phase.

The four-time World Champion enjoyed a number of battles – admitting later that he “had to send it many times around the outside” – en route to a third place finish.

Speaking in more detail about the Grand Prix later on, Verstappen explained why he was particularly pleased with the result as he detailed what he had struggled with.

“I tried to battle but we were just too slow on the straight,” said Verstappen. “We just lacked the same deployment, and that basically cost us a lot because at one point it's not defendable anymore.

“Once of course I had Kimi and George in front of me, I could just hang into the Overtake Mode. We just lack a bit of deployment on tracks like this, but for us to be on the podium is a very good result.”

Quizzed on the overtakes he had made – and whether being able to fight was a positive to take from the weekend – Verstappen responded: “I mean, I had to.

“I was so slow on the straight that the only chance was just to try and brake late and try to get my positions back all the time, in the start, if we were battling, but it worked. So, of course, happy with that and happy to be on the podium.“