Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying: Verstappen Struggles Continue
Kosport Magazine – The Monaco Grand Prix brought a familiar struggle for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. Throughout practice, the tight street circuit proved to be a challenge for the young Dutchman. Despite a change in fortunes for Red Bull last week, Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez were still unable to match the speed of rivals Ferrari and McLaren during qualifying.
Verstappen managed to secure third place in his first flying lap of Q3, but a brush with the wall at Turn 1’s Ste Devote prevented him from setting a second lap. He ultimately qualified in sixth place, three tenths behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who took pole position.
But it wasn’t just the brush with the wall that hindered Verstappen’s performance. He also struggled with the bumps and kerbs of the circuit, unable to make adjustments to his car that would improve his lap time. “In the second sector we are so bad, just because I can’t touch any kerbs,” he explained. “It’s incredibly difficult.”
These issues are not new for Red Bull, as they have been struggling with low-speed handling on bumpy circuits for the past two years. However, with their rivals closing the gap in terms of car performance, Red Bull’s weaknesses are being exposed. Verstappen believes their issues at Monaco are a sign of what’s to come on similar circuits, such as the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
But despite these struggles, Verstappen remains confident in his team and their ability to overcome these challenges. “We have had this problem since 2022,” he said. “But with everyone catching up, naturally, when you are not improving your weakest point, you get found out.”
Kosport Magazine’s Take: Verstappen’s struggles at Monaco are a clear indication of Red Bull’s ongoing issues with low-speed handling. With their rivals closing the gap and no quick fixes in sight, it will be interesting to see how Red Bull fares on similar circuits in the future. Only time will tell if they can find a solution to these challenges and maintain their position as top competitors in the Formula 1 world.
