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MAX VERSTAPPEN CLAIMS BROKEN ITALIAN GRAND PRIX TRACK NEARLY PUT HIM OUT OF THE….

Max Verstappen revealed that a section of the Monza track surface breaking apart nearly forced him out of the Italian Grand Prix after a dramatic race in Italy.

The Red Bull driver recovered to finish third at the famous circuit, securing a podium behind Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Antonelli produced a remarkable comeback victory after starting 19th on the grid, while Russell crossed the line second.

 

However, Verstappen’s podium came after a worrying moment when the track surface began to break up around Turn 2. The Red Bull star was forced to deal with the damaged section while battling on a circuit where small mistakes can have major consequences.

 

Verstappen explained that the incident was particularly concerning because running over the damaged surface could have sent his car off the circuit and potentially ended his race.

 

Despite the scare, the four-time world champion managed to keep his Red Bull under control and continue his charge toward the podium.

 

The result was especially valuable after Red Bull struggled for pace throughout the weekend. Verstappen had qualified sixth after experiencing problems with the rear of his RB22, with the car losing performance over Monza’s kerbs and bumps.

 

The Italian Grand Prix ultimately delivered a dramatic afternoon. Charles Leclerc’s early crash triggered a red flag, while Antonelli’s stunning recovery from 19th produced a historic home victory for Mercedes.

 

For Verstappen, third place provided an important haul of points — but his revelation about the deteriorating track surface added another layer of drama to an already chaotic race at Monza.