Formula 1: Verstappen Struggles at Monaco GP
The Monaco GP was a day devoid of action, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggling to make an impact, finishing sixth in a race that saw no changes in the top 10. The opening-lap red flag, caused by Sergio Perez’s collision with the two Haas drivers, allowed all remaining drivers to swap tires and gain a free pitstop, stifling any potential battles.
Verstappen, one of the few drivers to opt for a second tire change, successfully countered Lewis Hamilton’s undercut attempt but failed to overtake George Russell’s Mercedes despite having a significant tire advantage. “After the red flag, our strategy was ruined as we had to put the medium on to the end, and that meant we had to save a lot,” Verstappen explained, pointing to the lack of excitement in the race.
“I just tried to follow George and we were so off the pace trying to manage the tires. That is, of course, quite boring out there, driving literally half-throttle on the straights in some places, a gear higher than you would normally do and four seconds off the pace, so that is not really racing.” For Verstappen, the track layout at Monaco GP is the main culprit behind the lack of action, and he believes changes could be made to improve the racing experience.
“First, I would like to try to, if there are possibilities, change a few things,” he said. “Because it’ll make the excitement even better. Overall, the weekend is really cool, just the Sunday is a little bit boring unfortunately, but the scenery is still great. If we can find a way to race a bit better, why not? That would be my preferred solution.” Verstappen is open to sharing his opinions on potential layout changes, acknowledging that passing is currently extremely difficult.
Following Charles Leclerc’s maiden home win at Monaco, Verstappen’s Formula 1 world championship lead has been cut to 31 points over the Ferrari driver. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s advantage in the F1 world constructors’ championship is down to 24 points over Ferrari.
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