Can you imagine Max Verstappen getting onto the airwaves, using expletives, and not exuding anger like he usually does wherever that happens? Well, that’s what happened during the Italian GP. In fact, instead of anger, there might’ve been a touch of appreciation in his tone, even though the situation wasn’t ideal for him. Appreciation for anyone other than his best friend, Lando Norris? That’s almost unheard of by Verstappen, but Carlos Sainz and Ferrari clearly did something right in Monza—its home race, its backyard—for the reigning champion to bow down to them.

Starting in P2 instead of the P1 he’s gotten accustomed to this season, Verstappen had the Ferrari of  Carlos Sainz in front of him. What should’ve been an easy move for Verstappen’s RB19 to take the lead proved tougher than he’d expected. Sainz’s SF-23, in turn, received high praise from the Dutchman.

Rocketship-driving Max Verstappen was in awe of Ferrari’s Monza rocketship

This season, drivers have had to add another piece of jargon to their vocabulary—last season, they all got used to “porpoising.” In 2023, it’s “rocketship,” another word for the RB19. The nickname seemed only apt because it’s the fastest car on the grid, and its DRS advantage is unmatchable. So technically, with Verstappen right behind him after the race start, and more crucially after the FIA enabled DRS, Sainz would’ve expected Verstappen to go right past him and take the lead. 

Much to their surprise, the SF-23 was coping well with the RB19’s pressure. The pace disparity was obviously making Sainz use his tires more than Verstappen behind. On Lap 4, the Dutchman even said to his team (and Ferrari), “He’s already sliding a bit. So it’s all okay,” meaning the overtake wouldn’t be too difficult. That’s where he was wrong because Ferrari was dressed to impress the Tifosi at Monza. Despite the DRS advantage, Verstappen just couldn’t get past Sainz. While that was owing to the Spaniard’s stellar defense at times, it was also primarily due to the Ferrari’s straight-line speed.

Read More: “What a Day for Ferrari”: Despite Throwing In the Towel, Carlos Sainz Makes Tifosi Dreams Come True

Five laps after his “It’s all okay” comment, he was still in P2, obviously frustrated but also a tad bit impressed, so he radioed in and said, “They have a lot of top speed for f**k sake.” But after keeping Verstappen at bay for 14 laps, Sainz eventually succumbed to his tire degradation and the Dutchman’s pressure and relinquished the lead after a hard-fought battle. Post-race, though—despite Sainz’s first podium of 2023—Verstappen admitted to feeling sorry for him.

Carlos Sainz received Max Verstappen’s sympathy after the race

When Verstappen informed his team that Sainz was already sliding around—meaning that he’d overused his tires and was losing grip—the reigning champ realized the overtake wouldn’t be too tough. Even though it turned out tougher than he’d expected, the result was as planned. He took the lead, went on his merry way, and broke the all-time record for most consecutive race wins. The record Sainz held for the 2023 season before this race was being the highest driver in the championship without a podium. After finishing P3, he removed that unwanted statistic from his name.

Even so, Verstappen revealed he felt sorry for Sainz, not because of the podium, but because of the Ferrari’s tire degradation. In this weekend’s episode of the Max Verstappen Cool-down Room Podcast, apart from reacting to incidents during the race, Verstappen said to Sainz: “I felt sorry for you. You were sliding like crazy.” 

Watch This Story: Max Verstappen set for huge new Red Bull deal, reported to be worth over $53 million per year

What did you think of Carlos Sainz and Ferrari’s pace during the Italian GP? Were you surprised to hear Max Verstappen being oddly appreciative?