In the heated run-up to the Monaco Grand Prix, reigning championship leader Max Verstappen candidly addressed his concerns about the performance gap between his Red Bull car and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, following Friday’s practice session where he lagged significantly behind. Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor for ESPN, provides an insightful look into the challenges faced by Verstappen and his team as they grapple with the limitations of their vehicle on the notoriously demanding Monaco street circuit. Despite the setbacks, Leclerc expressed confidence in his ability to further improve his pace, setting the stage for an intense qualifying round. Explore the full story of this high-stakes prelude to one of Formula 1’s most prestigious races.
In Monaco, Max Verstappen has acknowledged that Charles Leclerc is significantly ahead in the race for the pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix, after finishing Friday’s practice session more than half a second slower than the pace set by Ferrari. Verstappen, who is currently leading the championship, placed fourth in the session and expressed skepticism about Red Bull’s capacity to significantly improve before Saturday’s qualifying.
Verstappen commented that Ferrari’s current advantage seems substantial and his immediate focus is on addressing the issues with his car to enhance its drivability, rather than aiming for miracles. He highlighted the challenge his Red Bull car faces with the bumpy and curvy street circuit of Monaco, specifying that the vehicle’s inability to handle the track’s bumps, kerbs, and camber changes is costing them valuable lap time.
Despite experiencing a tough practice session, Verstappen remained mindful of the differences between this weekend and the previous one at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where overnight setup adjustments had significantly improved their performance. He pointed out that the current issues are more intrinsic to the car’s design and cannot be rectified with setup changes alone.
Leclerc, trailing Verstappen in the drivers’ championship by 48 points, remained optimistic after Friday’s practice. He suggested that there’s still more pace to be found in his performance, emphasizing the importance of pushing the limits in preparation for the qualifying session. He acknowledged taking more risks during practice, which paid off, and expressed confidence in maintaining strong performance and focus.
