‘It was the only option’ – Verstappen explains alternate tyre strategy in Monaco after going from P1 to P4 on final lap

Max Verstappen believes he and Red Bull secured the most on offer to them in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix after adopting an offset tyre strategy in a bid to impact the podium positions.

Verstappen qualified fifth-fastest around the streets of Monte Carlo but started fourth following Lewis Hamilton’s grid penalty, with the Dutchman initially trailing Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.

While Norris, Leclerc and Piastri pitted close together as they ticked off the required two stops, Verstappen extended both of his stints and led the race heading into the closing laps – seemingly in the hope of a red flag being thrown.

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 25: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull — Verstappen led going into the final laps with his offset tyre strategy

Verstappen eventually stopped for a second time on the penultimate lap and dropped back down to fourth place, but the reigning four-time World Champion feels it was “the only option” to potentially spring a surprise.

“Honestly, there was not much for us to improve on, because I had a big gap behind,” said Verstappen, who still crossed the line some 30 seconds clear of fifth-placed Hamilton.

“So, for us to just stay out and maybe hope for a red flag or whatever, it was the only option. We could have pitted sooner, but then you just sit there in fourth anyway.”

Race Highlights: 2025 Monaco Grand Prix

Verstappen admitted after Qualifying that Monaco had exposed Red Bull’s low-speed “weakness” and hopes the team will return to form – following their victory in Imola – at next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

“This is not our track – it’s as simple as that,” he stated. “Hopefully it’ll be better [in Spain]… hopefully a bit closer to what we had in Imola, but we’ll see next week.”

Verstappen remains third in the Drivers’ Championship after Round 8 of the season, 25 points off leader Piastri, while Red Bull are third in the Teams’ battle – one point ahead of Ferrari and four behind Mercedes.