{"id":124924,"date":"2025-09-06T19:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T19:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/124924\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T19:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T19:34:09","slug":"the-special-radio-message-hinting-at-the-key-to-verstappens-italian-gp-pole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/124924\/","title":{"rendered":"The special radio message hinting at the key to Verstappen’s Italian GP pole"},"content":{"rendered":"

To the surprise of many, Max Verstappen<\/a> grabbed his fifth pole-position of the Formula 1 season<\/a> at the same track he had described the Red Bull car as \u201ca monster\u201d just 12 months ago.<\/p>\n

So how have Verstappen and the Milton Keynes-based team been able to tame that monster and complete the fastest lap in F1 history?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have obviously learned and understood quite a lot since last year,\u201d Verstappen replied when asked by Autosport. \u201cThe car is quite different from last year, although this season we\u2019ve still had plenty of struggles with the car balance. That meant it was still a bit of a question mark to us how good or how bad the car would be here.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut on Friday I was more satisfied with the balance than usual, and I think we know a bit better how to set up the car by now. That allows us to make small steps after each session instead of having to change a lot of things throughout the weekend. Obviously that has helped me a lot in qualifying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lessons from Zandvoort put into practice<\/p>\n

Where Verstappen speaks of a better Friday, he can\u2019t even recall the last time he felt so comfortable in the Red Bull car during practice: \u201cThat has been a very long time ago. Also, the fact that we have only changed small things throughout the weekend has been a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Verstappen, this improved set-up direction is more important for Red Bull\u2019s Saturday success than the new floor upgrade introduced this weekend.<\/p>\n

\"Max <\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Photo by: Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we have learned quite a lot about this year\u2019s car in Zandvoort, and I hope that we can use that knowledge for the rest of the season,\u201c he said. \u201cOf course, I have to say that our car works a bit better on medium- and low-downforce tracks anyway, because we always have quite a lot of understeer in the middle of the corners. That\u2019s something you can manage a bit better around this track.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verstappen\u2019s set-up choices key to Monza pole?<\/p>\n

Beyond the lessons from Zandvoort, there has been another key factor in Monza: Verstappen himself pushed through on the final set-up choices ahead of qualifying. It\u2019s exactly what his radio message after qualifying \u2013 \u201cIt worked! Relax there, it\u2019s all good\u201d \u2013 referred to.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore qualifying, some people within the team wanted to try something else with the set-up, but I said: \u2018No, we shouldn\u2019t do that.\u2019\u201d Verstappen said. \u201cWhen I walked back to my room, I could still see some faces and a few people doubting that set-up direction. But I just felt, \u2018this is what we need to do,\u2019 and luckily it worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

When pointed out that the final call was more his than the team\u2019s, Verstappen elaborated in the Dutch media session: \u201cWell, in the end you make these decisions with multiple people, also with GP [Gianpiero Lambiase] and some other people around me.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, I also understand why certain questions were asked and why some people might have preferred a different direction. But in the end, I\u2019m the one sitting in the car and feeling certain things. I felt that we had to make just a few small changes and that it would be better then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Max <\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Photo by: Andy Hone\/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Top speed a weapon compared to McLaren<\/a>?<\/p>\n

It worked \u2013 though Verstappen still had to deliver an impressive Q3 lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn both of my Q3 laps I didn\u2019t have any big mistakes,\u201c he said. \u201cThat\u2019s always quite tricky to achieve at this track. Braking from such high speeds into these two chicanes, it\u2019s not always easy to hit the apex properly, but today it all came together.\u201d<\/p>\n

On top of that, Verstappen had a slight top speed advantage over McLaren\u200b, something that could prove useful in the race as well: \u201cI think I have a little bit more top speed, but ultimately you need to go fast around the corners as well. They\u2019re always very strong in that regard, and they manage the tyres better than anyone else. That\u2019s still an important advantage they have, but I just hope that our car feels a bit better and that maybe I\u2019ll have a chance to go with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

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