Max Verstappen could have one of his best opportunities yet to claim his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at Monza, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers. The Dutchman believes Red Bull’s strength on low-downforce circuits could allow the four-time world champion to challenge for victory at the Italian Grand Prix despite his difficult campaign so far.
Max Verstappen is enduring what has undoubtedly been his toughest and most disappointing season since joining Red Bull. The 28-year-old is still without a Grand Prix victory in 2026, something that had never previously happened to him during a season with the Milton Keynes team at this stage of his Red Bull career.
The championship has instead largely developed into a battle involving Mercedes and Ferrari, while McLaren arrives at Monza after reigning world champion Lando Norris claimed consecutive victories in Hungary and Zandvoort. Norris’s latest success has also strengthened McLaren’s growing challenge at the front.
Max Verstappen tipped to challenge for victory at Monza
Former Formula 1 driver and fellow Dutchman Christijan Albers believes the Italian Grand Prix could offer Max Verstappen the opportunity to turn his season around. After the mistake that ended his home race at Zandvoort, Monza could provide a chance to reset and finally fight for his first Grand Prix victory of the year.
The struggles of the Red Bull RB22 have been a major theme of Verstappen’s campaign, with the car proving more difficult for him to exploit than its predecessors. His difficulties extracting the maximum from the RB22 have contributed to an unusually challenging season for the four-time champion.
However, Verstappen has an impressive record at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. He has won the Italian Grand Prix three times, with his most recent victory coming last season, and Albers believes the characteristics of the circuit could again favour Red Bull.
Speaking in an interview with De Telegraaf, Christijan Albers said: “Basically, it is almost impossible to predict how the Italian Grand Prix weekend will unfold, but I am certain that Red Bull, with Max, can be competitive. They are incredibly strong on low-downforce circuits.”
Red Bull’s straight-line speed could suit Monza
Christijan Albers pointed to another high-speed circuit, Spa-Francorchamps, as evidence that the Red Bull can perform more strongly when aerodynamic efficiency and straight-line speed become particularly important.
That gives him confidence that Max Verstappen could once again find himself fighting at the front at the circuit traditionally known as the Temple of Speed.
“Max’s car is fast on the straights, so I expect them to be competitive in Italy,” Christijan Albers added. “I think Max can produce one of the big surprises of the 2026 season at Monza.”
Monza’s unique demands could therefore provide a better match for the characteristics of the RB22 than some of the circuits where Verstappen has struggled this season. Low downforce, high top speeds and long periods at full throttle place a premium on aerodynamic efficiency, an area in which Albers believes Red Bull can be particularly competitive.
Albers expects Antonelli and Norris to lead title fight after Monza
Despite his optimism for the Italian Grand Prix, Christijan Albers does not believe a strong Monza weekend would necessarily transform Max Verstappen into a championship contender for the remainder of the season.
“After that, it will become more difficult for Verstappen; in my view, it will probably come down to a duel between Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes and Lando Norris in the McLaren,” he said.
Max Verstappen remains well away from the leading positions in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, meaning individual race victories are now a more realistic immediate target than overturning the wider title picture.
Albers nevertheless believes another factor could strengthen Verstappen’s chances at Monza: championship leader Kimi Antonelli is due to take a grid penalty after Mercedes elected to install new power unit components for his home race.
“In my opinion, Max has a good chance at Monza, also because Antonelli has to serve the grid penalty for installing new engine components.”
With one of the main contenders set to start further back and Red Bull expected to benefit from Monza’s low-downforce characteristics, Christijan Albers believes the Italian Grand Prix could offer Max Verstappen his clearest opportunity yet to finally break his 2026 victory drought.
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