Charles Leclerc, from Monaco, drove the Ferrari SF-24 on May 24, 2024, during the Formula 1 World Championship, Stage 8, Monaco Grand Prix, held in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Practice Day.
Sergio Perez believes that Ferrari is out of reach in the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, as Red Bull drivers struggled to find comfort and speed during practice. Perez had previously suggested that the unique characteristics of the Monte Carlo circuit could make Red Bull more susceptible to competition from Ferrari and McLaren. This proved true in the first two hours on the track, as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set a strong pace in FP2 and took first place with a difference of almost two tenths. However, Red Bull was not the closest competitor to the Italian team, as both cars were outside the top 10 in FP1, and Max Verstappen was over five tenths behind in the second session.
Perez, who finished eighth in FP2, three tenths behind his teammate’s best effort, expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of his RB20 in both practice sessions. He acknowledged the challenges they face and the difficulties in overcoming them at the moment. Perez mentioned that they will analyze the issues tonight and try to find solutions. He also noted that they are running two cars with minor differences and are unsure of the problems Max faced. The long-distance pace seems to be in better condition, but Perez acknowledged that it is too late to make significant improvements at this point. They will have to wait and see what happens.
Perez agreed with his teammate’s assessment that it is unrealistic to match Ferrari’s lap times and compete at the front, unless Red Bull makes progress. He believes that Ferrari is currently out of reach and very strong. They have the ability to easily set fast laps whenever they need to, without struggling with tires or other issues. Perez emphasized that Ferrari is looking very strong at the moment.
When asked if there is a specific area to focus on overnight, Perez replied that it is not just one thing, but rather several aspects that they need to improve. They hope that by addressing these issues, they can get back in the fight and get closer to the top. However, Perez acknowledged that it is looking difficult for them at the moment.
