After an amazing weekend at the F1 Imola GP, Red Bull appeared to be improving their performance despite previous difficulties with the car. However, ahead of the Monaco GP, Max Verstappen revealed that there is still more learning to be done as McLaren are expected to win on Sunday.
“We just have to keep understanding our car a bit better, what we want with the set-up. This is a very different track. If you look at the season so far, we’ve only really been properly competitive on high-speed corners. Monaco is not a high-speed track. I’m a little more reserved for this weekend.”
The importance of qualifying
Monaco poses a challenge for the drivers as it is a street circuit that is immensely narrow, and does not leave a lot of room for overtaking. This makes it all the more important to master qualifying on Saturday. Verstappen expressed exactly how much emphasis there is on qualifying, stating that: “Even if you have the best car, to nail it in qualifying around here is very tough.
“I think it’s just how difficult the track is to master in qualifying, to get the most out of it.”
According to Verstappen, the team’s Fridays have not been great this season, however they have been good at analyzing the data which causes improvement for qualifying the next day. He continued by saying that what they learned in Imola could be useful, even if it is difficult to extract on a street circuit such as Monaco.
“But it’s been a bit more difficult just to get the car in the right window. I do think we learned quite a bit actually in Imola – what we want from the car. It’s not always easy to extract that now on a street circuit compared to Imola, but it was a very useful lesson. It gave me more confidence to push. We do a lot of simulator work.”
When asked about his approach to qualifying, Verstappen expressed how distinct the Monaco circuit is.
“At the end of the day, a lot is rhythm, because on a normal track it’s a bit more straightforward. The grip is good, you have space, you get quite comfortable. But around here, I don’t think you ever feel super comfortable. You’re always on the edge.”
A tough championship battle
Verstappen was asked about the championship battle as he is currently third in the Drivers’ Championship, 22 points separating him from the leader, Oscar Piastri. Red Bull are also third in the Constructors’ Championship, 148 points separating them from the leading team, McLaren. For Verstappen, it is not about believing that he is a part of the championship battle, rather it is about improving every race weekend.
“Well, it’s not about believing. It’s about where you finish in the last race, and we just keep working every race to be better and improve the situation. A lot can happen. If you asked me last year around this time, I’d have said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to win it. No problem.’ But then a lot changed as well. It’s not for sure that it’s going to be straightforward to the end of the season. I think we still have to improve in areas, but that’s fine. We’ll try to find the improvements.”
Additionally, when asked about how consistency plays into the battle for the title, Verstappen expressed that while it is important, the team’s focus is on the performance.
“The more performance we have, the easier we make it for ourselves. That’s what we’re trying to do – finding more performance in our car, better tire life, all these kinds of things together. That’s our focus now for the rest of the year.”
Teammate head to head
Furthermore, the question of his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, and his role in the constructors battle arose. The driver expressed the importance of firstly having a good car to be comfortable with, and how this would make them stronger competitors.
“Well, I think as a team you want both cars in the best possible position. But look at 2023, for example. If we have a good car, you will be fast and then it doesn’t matter what the other teams do in terms of strategy because you will beat them. We have to make sure that we put ourselves back in that position.”
Verstappen continued with saying that the competition is strong and the team has to keep improving, for both himself and Tsunoda.
“But naturally, as a team, we want to finish one-two every single weekend – but that’s tough at the moment. We have very strong competition. McLaren is doing a great job. So we just keep working, trying to improve – for myself, for Yuki – and we’ll see in the coming races what we can do.”
The new pit stop rules
Recently, the FIA introduced a new rule for the Monaco circuit. The rule states that it is mandatory for each driver to make a minimum of two pit stops during the race. This entails that the drivers must use three different sets of tires. When asked about how the race could change with the new rule, Verstappen revealed that it could potentially spice it up.
“I think it will spice it up probably a bit more. Normally, with one stop, once you have a good pit stop and everything is fine, then you drive to the end and just stay focused and not hit the barrier. But maybe with a two-stop, it can create something different – people gambling, guessing when the right time is to box.”
Fortunately, the driver appears optimistic about this change to the Monaco GP, and perhaps it will impact the race in more ways than one.
