Max Verstappen's Dire Predictions for Red Bull in Monaco - 'No Easy Fix'
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen cut a downbeat figure after a challenging first day of practice for the Monaco Grand Prix that featured set-up struggles, radio complaints, and several brushes with the barriers. The usually dominant team appeared to be struggling, leaving fans and analysts alike scratching their heads.
Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez were only 11th and 12th fastest in FP1, having posted their best times on medium tires. However, a switch to soft tires for FP2 resulted in only a minor improvement, with the duo finishing fourth and eighth respectively on the timesheets. This performance certainly raises questions about Red Bull's ability to contend in Monaco, a circuit where precision and confidence are paramount.
Frustrations on the Radio
During the session, Verstappen's frustration was palpable as he described his RB20 car as jumping around “like a kangaroo.” His words painted a vivid picture of the challenges he was facing. Verstappen tapped the wall on multiple occasions, including a notable thump as he rounded the Mirabeau Bas corner. One could almost hear the collective gasp from the Red Bull garage.
Offering his thoughts at the end of the day, Verstappen stated, “I don’t think I can even describe what is actually going on. It’s just very difficult. It’s not something that I didn’t expect, but it’s definitely at the higher end of the worst possible outcome of the weekend so far.”
No Clear Solution
The Dutch driver continued, “There are a lot of bumps, curbs and camber changes as well on the track, and for us, that is basically impossible to take. Every time that we go over it, we lose a lot of lap time, just because the car doesn’t ride it well.” His analysis indicated a significant inherent issue with the car's setup for Monaco’s unique demands.
Verstappen’s comments did not stop there. He reluctantly admitted, “That is definitely hampering us at the moment to go faster. There is also, I think, no real, clear direction or solution for the weekend to try and solve something like that.”
Set-Up Struggles
When asked if a recovery akin to the one they managed at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was possible, Verstappen was firm in his response. “Imola was completely different, also different issues that you can solve with setup,” he explained. “These kinds of things you cannot solve with setup. It’s how the car is made and designed, and these kinds of things you cannot change overnight, so we are stuck with that.”
His outlook for the remainder of the weekend was equally grim. “We’ll try to make it a little bit better but I don’t expect any miracles,” Verstappen concluded, indicating that Red Bull fans might have to temper their expectations for a Monaco miracle.
Perez Echoes the Sentiment
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez echoed his teammate’s sentiments regarding the current balance issue with their cars. “It’s going to be tough,” he said. “Our limitations are really hard to get away from at the moment, and the ride. We’ll see what we’re able to come up with tonight.”
Perez elaborated on the efforts to diagnose the issues, stating, “We ran the two cars slightly differently. I don’t know what the issues for Max were, so plenty of things… The long run pace seems to be in a better condition, but obviously, it’s just too late, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Chasing Ferrari
Addressing the early pace shown by Ferrari, Perez was realistic. “I think Ferrari at the moment are just not reachable – I think they’re really, really strong.” His comments confirmed what the timesheets already indicated: Ferrari has currently the upper hand on the streets of Monte Carlo.
Both drivers' remarks suggest that Red Bull is preparing for a challenging weekend ahead. With the historic track demanding utmost precision and their setups not delivering, it seems that Red Bull may have to swallow a rare yet significant struggle.