Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing driver, believes that the team’s vulnerability being exposed was the only positive result of a challenging weekend at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. Verstappen had anticipated that the unique characteristics of the Monte Carlo circuit would pose a challenge for Red Bull, but the team fared even worse than expected. The Dutch driver expressed frustration that his Red Bull RB20 could not handle the bumps and curbs on the streets of Monaco, unlike the Ferrari and McLaren cars. Verstappen revealed that this issue had been present since 2022, but had been masked by Red Bull’s previous dominance. Despite his championship lead being reduced by 31 points, Verstappen remains hopeful that Red Bull can unlock more potential from their car by addressing this obstacle. He acknowledged that the weekend was disappointing but emphasized the importance of identifying weaknesses to make significant improvements. Verstappen admitted that this issue will require more than a quick fix and may continue to affect Red Bull on bumpy tracks, like the upcoming race in Montreal. When asked about possible vulnerabilities in the future, Verstappen mentioned that any track with bumps or curbs could pose a challenge, especially street circuits. However, he expressed optimism that the team will gain a better understanding of the problem and progress in finding a solution.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, stated that the team will need Sergio Perez to recover from his early elimination in the first qualifying session in Monaco, as Ferrari and McLaren pose a growing threat. However, Verstappen believes that the team’s main focus should be on understanding why the car is struggling with bumps and kerbs. When asked if he needs Perez to perform well, Verstappen replied saying that they first need to identify and solve their issues. He emphasized that, although they still have a great car, they are aware of their limitations and addressing these limitations is their top priority. Verstappen also warned against comparing their struggles in Singapore last year, as they are still in the process of understanding the current problem. Despite the challenges, Verstappen reassured that the team is taking the situation seriously and working tirelessly to overcome the recurring obstacle that is affecting their competitiveness.
