Max Verstappen says Red Bull's lack of performance in Formula 1 qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix is no cause for concern as he believes it’s down to the low downforce cha🦹racteristics of the Monza circuit.

Verstappen was beaten by Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez to third place behind the two Mercedes drivers meaning he is set to start Sunday’s race from fifth 🙈place.

FIA’s decision to restrict the usage of ‘party modes’ was expected to bring the field closer to Mercedes, but the gap to the front seemed to be as large as normal ✱with Verstappen qualifying nearly 0.𒀰9s off pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen believes Red Bull’s lack of performance at Monza wasn’t simply down to a l🥂ack of engine power.

"We just didn't do a good job," Verstappen said. "Monza is a very special track, when we go back to a more normal layout, I expect us to be P3 ag👍ain but it's still not good enough from our side.

"The whole weekend we have been struggling a bit. I tried everything, tried all the wing levels that are possible to run at Monza and at the end of the lap I wa👍s the same.

"It shows that whe🍸n we are in low downforce, the car is still not where we want it to be, struggling a bit for balance and grip in ge𒈔neral. There are a lot of things to look into.

"It's easy to sa🔴y we are down on power but that's not an excuse."

Albon described his qualifying as a "mess", wit⛦h the Thai driver set to st🐽art from ninth on Sunday.

"It was a mess," Albon added. " But to be honest I th♑ought my laps were pretty good. It was just very crowded on the track. We'll see how it goes tomorrow."

"I don't think they have caught up with us in terms of speed, but rather that their cars are better sꦅuited to this track. Every time we get to a circuit where little dow𝓰nforce is needed they are very strong."