Latest Episode | Cut To The Race Podcast
Max Verstappen admitted that he has low hopes for the Monaco Grand Prix after a sub-par Qualifying performance.
Verstappen (right) will line up in P6 for the Monaco Grand Prix, while teammate Sergio Perez (left) will start from 18th on the grid (Image Credit: @redbullracing on X)The defending Champion has entered the Monaco Grand Prix weekend once again as a Championship leader, but in recent races the RB20 car beneath him hasn’t looked as dominant as it used to be.
McLaren’s Lando Norris has been Verstappen’s closest rival at both the Miami and Emilia-Romagna Grands Prix, with the Briton winning the former and running the Red Bull driver close in the latter.
Red Bull’s drop in form has continued around the tight and twisty Circuit de Monaco, as Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez have complained about a lack of stability through the slow-speed corners.
Home favourite Charles Leclerc looked like the driver to beat through much of Friday and Saturday, and the Monegasque duly put his Ferrari SF-24 on pole position. Oscar Piastri will start alongside Leclerc on the front row in his Senna tribute-liveried McLaren.
Meanwhile, Verstappen could only manage P6 after hitting the wall on his second flying lap. Perez fared even worse, as he failed to make it out of Q1 and ended up in 18th position.
What can Verstappen hope to achieve on Sunday after such an off-colour Qualifying performance?
Not much we can do
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after Qualifying, Verstappen couldn’t hide his disappointment at failing to secure a record-breaking ninth consecutive pole position in Formula 1. He said: “I’m not disappointed with the position, I’m disappointed with our performance.”
The triple World Champion explained the main limitation holding him back from fighting for pole: “It’s not come as a surprise to me because I knew our limitations coming into this weekend. It’s been bad. I can’t take any kerbs.
“In the middle sector, I’m driving around the kerbs. It feels like I’m driving a go-kart, with no suspension and no damping.”
“It’s been very difficult for us. I felt really comfortable in the high-speed corners, at least that was enjoyable but in the low-speed we are losing too much, where it’s bumpy and the car is jumping around,” claimed a dejected Verstappen.
Overtaking is notoriously difficult around the streets of Monaco, and therefore Verstappen doesn’t expect he will be challenging for the win in the 78-lap event. He continued: “If it’s a straightforward race, there’s not much you can do. The cars are so wide and so big, that you can’t pass. We will try to stick with them. We don’t have the fastest car.
“It’s not like we qualified out of position, so there’s not a pace advantage we can use. We will see what happens.”
The Monaco Grand Prix commences Sunday 26 May at 14:00 BST (15:00 local time).
Feature Image Credit: Getty Images