“It’s not ideal for Monaco”: Max Verstappen is Expecting RB19’s First Defeat This Season in Monaco

Red Bull has so far enjoyed one-sided domination in the 2023 season. They have secured 5 wins in the first 5 races of the year, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez winning 3 and 2 races respectively.

However, the upcoming race in Monaco threatens to end Red Bull’s invincible form. Although Red Bull will be ready with upgrades designed specifically for the track, Verstappen believes part of the problems lies in the car.

The Dutchman has never accepted a second place as a good result, as he always races to win. Nevertheless, the driver is ready to make an exception this Sunday.

Max Verstappen reveals reasons why Red Bull will struggle in Monaco

Max Verstappen was thoroughly pleased with the RB19’s blazing speed over its competitors. However, the strengths that make the RB19 a feared car in the grid are the reasons why it will struggle in Monaco.

The Dutchman pointed out the problem lies in Monaco’s layout. Verstappen believes Red Bull’s concept will fail in the 22-corner street circuit. He told Autosport, “It’s not only the car, it’s also the track. The corners are so tight and so slow, you require a different behavior of the car compared to normal tracks and also the way you have to drive it.”

So far the Red Bull drivers have utilized the RB19’s DRS and straight-line advantage. However, the street circuit is notoriously difficult to overtake. The narrow track width and twisting nature of the track will also hamper the car’s performance.

The 2x champion is satisfied with his car, as it has enabled him to win races with ease. Verstappen normally never settles for anything below P1. However, the driver claims scoring points this weekend will be a good result for the team.

He continued, “I prefer to have a quick car for most of the tracks. It’s not ideal for Monaco, but it’s fine. It’s only one race on the calendar, we just want to have a good result. Of course, I want to win, but if that is not the case, I’ll just take the points.”

Verstappen expects Fernando Alonso to be a threat

Max Verstappen believes the 2023 Monaco GP will be a close race, with little to separate the leaders. Therefore the Dutchman believes their qualifying position will be crucial.

Verstappen said, “We know that over one lap it’s normally not our strongest point, but we still took quite a few pole positions this year, so it’s still all possible.”

 

📰: Alonso eyes success at Monaco despite Red Bull’s dominance. The unique street circuit layout poses challenges, with limited overtaking opportunities. Rain could further complicate the race. Alonso remains confident but acknowledges Ferrari’s strong performance in Baku. He… pic.twitter.com/1kNPQbsrWt

— F1 Naija 🇳🇬 (@f1_naija) May 25, 2023

His teammate Sergio Perez too agreed with him. The Mexican driver said, “I think come Saturday you need that good warm-up on your tire. That is the key around here. Let’s say it’s not our strongest circuit, but we will see; it’s still Monaco and anything can happen”

Verstappen and Perez do not consider Red Bull as the favorite to win. This means we could see the first non-Red Bull driver to win a race this season. The 2022 GP winner picks Fernando Alonso to bag his 33rd race win.