Verstappen on Monaco prospects: ‘I don’t think we look that great’

Max Verstappen arrives in Monaco this weekend chasing a third career win on Formula 1’s most iconic stage – but the reigning World Champion admits he has “no idea” where Red Bull will stand in the pecking order come race day.

Despite winning last time out at Imola, Verstappen heads into round eight of the 2025 season with a sense of uncertainty about Red Bull's form on the tight, twisty streets of Monte Carlo.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit has struggled for outright performance on slower circuits so far this year, with McLaren emerging as the dominant force thanks to five wins claimed by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

"If you take the average of Miami and Imola, I don’t think we look that great," Verstappen said when asked to assess his team’s prospects for the weekend.

"I know this is a very different track. We’ve only been properly competitive on high-speed tracks so far this season. Monaco isn’t a high-speed track… I’m a little bit more reserved. I have no idea where we are."

Qualifying Crucial Amid Friday Struggles

While Red Bull’s RB21 is certainly no laggard – particularly in qualifying, where Verstappen has matched Piastri with three pole positions – the Dutchman acknowledged that the team’s frequent struggles in Friday practice sessions remain a mystery.

"I wish I knew! We don’t do it on purpose, I swear," he said, reflecting on their inconsistent early-weekend form.

"We learned a lot in Imola. It was a very useful lesson. It definitely gave me more confidence to push. We do a lot of simulator work."

Verstappen also pointed to a longer-standing issue with Red Bull's car characteristics.

"Unfortunately, I think our car for the last one-and-a-half, two years, has been in a very narrow window,” he noted.

“That sometimes translates to a poor Friday, but the team are good at analysing things and making the right calls for the next day. Most times we improved the situation."

That Saturday turnaround will be critical this weekend, with qualifying around Monaco so often a decisive factor in determining Sunday’s winner due to the circuit’s notorious lack of overtaking opportunities.

"It’s One You Want to Win"

Despite the unknowns, Verstappen remains highly motivated to add a third Monaco triumph to his growing résumé. The Red Bull driver took victories here in 2021 and 2023, and described the event as Formula 1’s ultimate challenge.

"I think it’s just how difficult the track is to master in qualifying," he said. "Knowing that overtaking is difficult on Sunday, you know qualifying is more important.

"It’s challenging, bumpy, there’s the history… it’s one you want to win. It’s pretty insane, to be honest."

With only 22 points separating him from championship leader Piastri, Verstappen knows that another win in Monaco would be a significant step toward reclaiming the top spot.

But with questions still swirling about Red Bull’s competitiveness in low-speed conditions, he’ll first need to see where he stands when the weekend truly begins.

• Read also: Red Bull bracing for a Monaco reality check after Imola high

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