Max Verstappen enters the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix unsure of Red Bull’s RB21 pace on tight street circuits after Imola success.
Verstappen is approaching this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix with caution, unsure of how competitive his RB21 will be on the tight and twisty street circuit.
Despite outperforming the McLarens in Imola and benefiting from significant upgrades to his car, Verstappen remains unconvinced that these improvements will translate into comfort or confidence around Monaco, a venue that exposed Red Bull’s weaknesses last year.
Speaking in the paddock on Thursday, the reigning world champion laid out his expectations, and reservations.
“If we average out Miami and Imola, I wouldn’t say we’re in great shape. We need to stay grounded. Imola was a strong weekend overall, though Friday wasn’t ideal. The key is continuing to understand the car and what we want in terms of setup. Monaco is a completely different challenge. So far this season, we’ve only really excelled in high-speed corners. Monaco isn’t one of those places. I’m a bit more cautious heading into this weekend. Even with the best car, qualifying here is extremely tough. We’ll see how things unfold tomorrow and take it from there. Honestly, I have no idea where we stand. Historically, we’ve struggled on slow street circuits. I hope that changes, but I just don’t know.”
So, what’s the secret to a good qualifying session in Monaco?
“That really depends on where you are on the grid, right? If you’re at the back, you have to go all out in Q1 just to get through. First, let’s see where we land. Monaco is unique, you need to push, but it’s so tricky, even in qualifying. Timing your lap is everything. Traffic can be a big issue in Q1 with so many cars out. There’s a fine line between taking risks and maintaining rhythm. That rhythm is crucial, especially here. On a traditional circuit, grip is good, there’s space, and things feel more natural. Here? You’re never really comfortable. You’re constantly on the edge. So qualifying becomes about reading the track, finding flow, making sure the car feels right and the tires are in the perfect window. It sounds simple, but it’s not. And with the current C6 compound, I genuinely don’t know how it’s going to behave. That’s something we all need to figure out, every driver, every team.”
Last year, Verstappen likened his car to a bouncing kart. Has the RB21 improved?
“Yes. I don’t really know. We’ll see tomorrow. But to be honest, that kind of track behavior hasn’t typically been our strength. We’ll see. I still have no idea how it’ll react.”
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