Gentle with the throttle pedal – Verstappen mentally prepared for painful Monza weekend

When Max Verstappen stepped into the media briefing at Monza, the atmosphere was no longer that of a driver chasing titles. The four-time world champion spoke of being 'gentle with the throttle pedal' – a phrase that sounds simple but encapsulates the entire complexity of this weekend. Verstappen is no longer the vocal critic he was in 2026; instead, he accepts: 'I also don't want to be too negative about it all. It is what it is.' This acceptance is not a sign of giving up, but an acknowledgment of a technical reality he warned about years ago. The context of this weekend lies in the 2026 energy regulations – a system Verstappen identified as flawed from the start. At Monza, a track with high average speed and long straights, the 4 MJ per lap harvesting limit becomes the harshest constraint. This is an extremely low figure compared to previous seasons, designed to prevent 'super clipping' – the aggressive MGU-K deployment that creates unfair performance gaps. But the consequence is 'regular clipping': the MGU-K runs out of energy early on each straight, forcing drivers to operate almost purely on internal combustion engine (ICE) power for significant portions. Verstappen confirms top speeds at Monza this year are 'considerably lower than in previous years'. Interestingly, this very limitation creates a potential advantage for Red Bull. FIA's ADUO sensor data indicates Red Bull possesses the most powerful ICE on the grid. When electrical energy is exhausted early, the raw output of the internal combustion engine becomes the deciding factor. This explains why Monza 'could in theory suit Red Bull slightly better than Zandvoort'. However, Verstappen remains sceptical: the ICE advantage may not be enough to offset the energy management weakness that has become Red Bull's Achilles' heel. He admits: 'on the inefficient tracks, we've not been particularly great with energy.' Another layer of complexity comes from the self-learning algorithms of the power unit (PU). Small deviations in energy management can confuse the algorithm, leading to 'major consequences'. Oscar Piastri experienced this first-hand at Spa – a warning for the entire grid. Verstappen describes having to adjust the throttle in an 'unnatural' way, sacrificing corner-exit acceleration to preserve energy for the straights. This is not just a technical puzzle but a test of driver discipline and patience. From a strategic perspective, Monza this year completely changes the picture: energy management replaces tire strategy as the primary variable. At Budapest and Zandvoort – 'energy-rich circuits' – teams could afford to be more relaxed. But at Monza, the energy budget is exhausted quickly and recovery opportunities are limited, forcing teams to build bespoke strategies. Piastri reveals McLaren's simulation data shows lower top speeds than even Hungary – a clear sign that this weekend will feature no spectacular speed demonstrations. The irony is that Red Bull, the team that dominated the previous ground-effect era, now struggles with the very regulations they once benefited from. Being labeled the 'fourth force' at Zandvoort – a track where their car should theoretically excel – is a stark indicator of their decline. Verstappen concedes: 'we were already behind before that, so I don't expect that to change now.' This statement, from a four-time champion, is a rare public concession. But there is a counter-intuitive angle: Verstappen's acceptance may be a long-term strategy. He no longer criticizes the regulations every weekend, instead focusing on 'learn[ing] more about the car and the things that we want to do different for next year'. This suggests Red Bull may be redirecting development resources toward the 2026 season, accepting short-term sacrifices for future gains. If true, Monza is not just a 'painful' weekend but a critical test of the team's strategic direction. On the governance side, the FIA and F1 are 'doing everything they can to ease the pain', including the extremely low harvesting limit. But Verstappen warns: 'better doesn't mean that it's fixed. It's far from fixed.' This is an acknowledgment that patchwork solutions cannot change the fundamentals of the regulations in the short term. Monza will be a stress test for the 2026 regulatory framework – if the race becomes a procession, pressure will mount on the FIA to reconsider the entire system, potentially mid-cycle. Ultimately, the story at Monza is not just about speed or tactics. It's about human resilience against technical constraints. Verstappen, who was ill with flu at Zandvoort and suffered a heavy crash into the SAFER barrier, is now fully recovered. He enters this weekend with a mindset of 'mentally accepted', no longer expecting a miracle result. But that very acceptance is his strongest weapon – because when there is nothing left to lose, a driver can race with rare freedom. And in a weekend where energy is strictly limited, mental freedom might just be what makes the difference.