Max Verstappen, speaking at the traditional Thursday press conference in Monaco, praised the work done in Milton Keynes and warned about the challenges posed by the principality
Fresh off his win in Imola, Verstappen is ready for the Monte Carlo weekend (see here for weather and schedule). This marks the second consecutive race in Europe, following the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where the Dutchman closed the gap to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri—who finished third behind his teammate Lando Norris. Despite having a less competitive car, Max remains firmly in the championship fight, not far behind the two Papaya drivers.
In Monaco, the real race happens on Saturday—or so the saying goes—given the critical importance of qualifying. Even with the 2025 regulation change introducing two mandatory pit stops in the race, Saturday’s qualifying remains pivotal. That’s why it’s crucial to fine-tune the car setup from the very first practice session. And Max is fully aware of this.
The Dutchman’s Words: “Monaco is a Different Kind of Challenge”
Here’s what the four-time World Champion had to say ahead of the weekend:
“We’ve made good progress, and I’ve been feeling much more comfortable in the car. That puts us in a stronger position heading into the upcoming races. It was great to kick off this triple-header with a win in Imola on Sunday“.
Max continued: “We’ll need to stay focused and not take anything for granted, because Monaco is a different kind of challenge. It’s a street circuit, which makes it much more demanding“.
Then he rememberes: ““In the past, this hasn’t been one of our strongest circuits, but we’ve made steps forward in terms of setup and are trying to get the most out of the car. Qualifying will be crucial, as will strategy. Performing well on Saturday will be key to managing Sunday’s race. And of course, it’s always special to race so close to home, especially on such an intense weekend “.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing