Verstappen states that Red Bull-Ford remains at a disadvantage.

      "We are taken aback as a team."

      Max Verstappen mentioned that Red Bull is still engaging in discussions with the FIA regarding the ADUO engine system, following the governing body's determination that the Red Bull-Ford setup has the top combustion engine in Formula 1 on two occasions. The initial ADUO evaluation, conducted after the early season period, ranked Red Bull-Ford at the top, which resulted in no additional homologation opportunities for them, while Mercedes received one extra upgrade and Ferrari, Honda, and Audi were granted two.

      The FIA's second evaluation, finalized after the race in Hungary, again positioned Red Bull-Ford as the benchmark, providing no further homologations to any manufacturer. Consequently, Red Bull has been excluded from the ADUO concessions in both assessments, despite Verstappen and the team maintaining that the overall Red Bull-Ford power unit is not indeed the most potent package. "We are taken aback as a team, and we perceive things quite differently ourselves," Verstappen stated at Monza. "We are still in discussions with the FIA regarding next year, and we will see what emerges from that."

      He also cautioned that the Monza race might further highlight their disadvantages as competing manufacturers roll out upgrades. "Our competitors are currently introducing their engine upgrades," said Verstappen. "We were already at a disadvantage previously, and I do not anticipate much change in that regard at this moment."

      Meanwhile, Verstappen disclosed how unwell he had been during the challenging Zandvoort weekend, where he crashed heavily on the opening lap. "I was extremely ill," he admitted. "When you’re that unwell, you value your full recovery so much more. The entire weekend in Zandvoort was a nightmare." "Even after Zandvoort, I still didn’t feel well for several days. It has been a long time since I felt this way." He noted that the impact from the crash did not raise any lasting concerns due to the SAFER barrier. "It was the first time I hit that SAFER wall," he remarked. "It performed its function quite effectively."