Verstappen admits Monaco exposing Red Bull ‘weakness’ after low-key Qualifying performance

Max Verstappen knew “straight away” that he faced a difficult Qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix, explaining how the nature of the Monte Carlo street circuit has exposed Red Bull’s low-speed “weakness”.

Verstappen featured at the front of the field in Saturday’s final practice session but the reigning World Champion was left behind by rivals McLaren and Ferrari when the all-important grid decider developed.

In the end, Verstappen had to settle for fifth on the grid, almost three quarters of a second slower than pole-sitter Lando Norris, after struggling to make an impact in the middle sector of the lap.

Verstappen: Monaco highlighted ‘weakness we have in the car’

However, the Dutchman will gain a spot ahead of Sunday’s race after the stewards determined that he was impeded by Lewis Hamilton in the first phase of Qualifying – the Ferrari man given a three-place grid drop.

“I felt it straight away in Q1,” Verstappen, who has three pole positions and two race wins to his name this season, said of the RB21’s limitations.

“We were lacking quite a bit in Sector 2, all the low-speed, mechanical grip corners, where the track also drops away from you, where you have to ride kerbs… that’s where we struggle the most, unfortunately, and that never really seemed to improve a lot.”

Qualifying Highlights: 2025 Monaco Grand Prix

Pushed on how much he has been chasing the balance this weekend, Verstappen added: “I think it’s just the weakness that we have in the car. The low-speed corners are not good, we know that, and it’s just highlighted again.”

In the other Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda was a disappointed Q2 eliminee with his run to 12th – suggesting after Qualifying that there was more to that early exit than meets the eye.

Asked what happened on his final lap, he said: “I mean, it’s not just the last push, it started in Q2, but it’s okay… I know what’s happened and I don’t have to talk [about it] here. I’ll try my best to score points. Monaco is always difficult, so let’s see.”