Verstappen: Red Bull’s advantage is over now that the car has been exposed.

Max Verstappen revealed that Red Bull’s difficulties at the Monaco Grand Prix are due to a long-standing issue that has been masked by the team’s car advantage. Verstappen explained that the car’s weakness in handling bumps and kerbs makes it feel like driving a go-kart. This problem has been present since 2022, but was hidden by Red Bull’s dominance. However, with other teams closing in, the weakness has been exposed. Verstappen compared the current situation to previous races in Monaco, where the car had the same feeling but still managed to win due to its advantage in other areas. Despite a mistake in qualifying, Verstappen was surprised to be so close to the front cars. He described the car as being on the edge and said the problem cannot be quickly resolved. Red Bull will continue to work to understand and fix the issue, but it is not clear if it can be resolved this season or if they will have to wait until next year. Verstappen acknowledged that each race has presented different challenges for the team and they need to work to understand their limitations and improve their performance. Although Monaco is the worst manifestation of the problem, Verstappen expects it to affect them at other circuits as well. Despite his lead in the championship, Verstappen remains focused on being consistent and knows that one bad race will not determine the outcome of the championship.