Max Verstappen conceded Red Bull remains “weak” in low-speed corners after qualifying fifth for the 2025 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.
The Dutchman was over seven tenths off pole as he struggled to extract performance from his RB21 on the tight streets of Monte Carlo.
Verstappen predicted a ‘damage limitation’ weekend for the Milton Keynes-based squad on Thursday, a forecast confirmed by qualifying results.
After admitting the team had overdone the setup following the free practice sessions, he entered qualifying hoping to deliver a surprise pole lap.
But it never arrived for him, as he had to settle for the third row before a three-place grid drop for Lewis Hamilton bumped him up to fourth.
The Ferrari driver impeded him in qualifying, as the stewards decided to punish the Briton for his actions.
After the session, the reigning World Champion acknowledged some progress from 2024 had been made, but lamented Red Bull’s ongoing lack of performance through the low-speed corners.
“It’s a little bit better, but we’re just weak in low speed, and then also where you have to take kerbs and the camber drops away from you,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“That’s why our car doesn’t like that; it’s never liked it and still doesn’t like it.”
Asked when he knew that pole position was off the cards, Verstappen replied: “I mean, in the FP2, it was not very good.
“The problem is, normally, yes, we can fine-tune our balance, we find performance.
“But when a car is not performing at low speed, it’s not performing.
“It doesn’t matter what you do with the set-up, and that’s our problem.
“It’s always been our problem from the start of 22’, and it’s still our problem.”
Monaco challenges persist for Verstappen with low-speed troubles
Since 2022, the 27-year-old’s Monaco record has been mixed – finishing sixth last season, claiming victory in 2023, and securing a podium the year before.
It hasn’t been one of his happiest hunting grounds, yet he still boasts two victories at this circuit – the joint second-most among drivers on this year’s grid.
However, the Red Bull driver went on to say he believes Monaco is “just not our track,” highlighting the ongoing challenges his team faces here.
“Yeah, I mean, of course, you always hope for more,” he explained.
“You try to solve issues, but yeah, our car just doesn’t like low-speed corners, and especially the low-speed here in Monaco, with all the curbs and stuff.
“Yeah, it’s just not our track.”
Asked if he was surprised by the margin, Verstappen said: “I could have been a little bit closer, I think, but again we just didn’t have the grip.
“So when you don’t have the grip around here, you can’t fully extract everything out of it.
“So then it doesn’t matter if it’s three tenths, four tenths, seven tenths – you’re just not fast enough.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen: Red Bull set-up changes ‘shattering a lot of pace’ in Monaco F1 practice
