P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen believes Red Bull’s woes in qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix show that its weakness riding kerbs has been “found out” now rivals have caught up. The Dutchman was open heading into the weekend that he expected the unique circuit characteristics present at Monte Carlo to make Red Bull even more vulnerable. Verstappen […]
The Dutch team’s expectations for a competitive weekend were dampened by the challenges posed by the unique characteristics of the Monte Carlo circuit. Despite Verstappen’s struggles during practice, he showed promise in the early stages of qualifying, positioning himself as a strong contender for pole position. However, a brush with the barrier at Turn 1 hindered his final attempt, leading to a sixth-place finish, with his teammate Perez being eliminated in Q1. Verstappen expressed frustration with the car’s handling over the bumpy track, unable to find the optimal setup despite trying various adjustments. The Red Bull driver acknowledged the team’s longstanding issue with car stability on rough surfaces, a weakness that has been exacerbated as competitors like Ferrari and McLaren have closed in on Red Bull’s performance. Looking ahead to the race, Verstappen, a previous Monaco race winner, admitted the uncertainty and difficulty of controlling the car on the edge, emphasizing the challenges posed by the circuit’s unforgiving nature.
